The Minnesota Vikings are considered one of the big winners in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They were able to snag their quarterback of the future, coming away with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with their first pick of the night.
Minnesota completed a trade with the New York Jets, moving up one spot in exchange for multiple Day 3 picks. It was a smart move by the Vikings, as rumors swirled that other teams could be looking to move up in a deal with the Jets for a quarterback.
But, it was their second first-round pick, which ended up being No. 17, that people were really blown away by. With that pick, the Vikings selected Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner. It was excellent value for Minnesota, as Turner was considered a top 10 prospect by several evaluators coming into the draft.
Because of the historic run on offensive players to start the draft, teams like the Vikings were presented with incredible value opportunities later in the first round. They cashed in on Turner, as one NFL scout who spoke to NFL Analysis Network praised the selection.
“How this kid fell out of the top-10, I’m honestly not sure. Minnesota hit a home run by trading up for Dallas Turner. After losing Danielle Hunter, being able to land Turner helps get their defense back on track. He’s a future superstar and will be a huge impact player as a rookie.”
Danielle Hunter signed a deal in free agency with the Houston Texans, creating a massive void along the defensive front. Turner, in time, will help fill that void given his immense upside as a pass rusher.
In his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Turner recorded 32.5 tackles for loss with 22.5 sacks as he lives in the opponent’s backfield. The Vikings have to be excited about adding him to their team as Turner put up career highs across the board in the 2023 season.
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