Dallas Turner moves into a vital role for the Vikings, fulfilling their vision from the 2024 draft

Turner's performance in training camp this summer after a strong finish last season has underscored why O'Connell was so happy to get him. The Vikings have a big role waiting for the third-year edge rusher, and they're eager to watch him run with it.

"He has total ownership of the defense now," O'Connell said this week. "We're starting to see the refinement of skills and the different repertoire of moves and how he packages all that together over the course of a lot of snaps. It's been really cool to see, because we know how athletically gifted he is."

The 6-foot-3 Turner, who's been listed at 247 pounds since the Vikings took the Miami-area native with the 17th overall pick out of Alabama, had his teammates on defense roaring with approval last week during joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens . Turner frequently beat blocks by two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley to reach the quarterback for what likely would've been sacks in a game.