The Minnesota Vikings selected Dallas Turner with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Turner is an athletic edge rusher with size, speed and burst to get after playmaking quarterbacks. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 while playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
describes him like this: “Long and athletic with the explosive traits needed to become an impactful NFL pass rusher. Turner’s first-step quickness and elite closing burst are important building blocks, but he still needs to work on his process from Point A to Point B. He hasn’t learned to create the space and angles needed to consistently attack the edges, but that should come with better hand development and a more diversified approach. A team would be wise to widen him out and allow him a better runway to ignite his burst and overwhelm tackles with his speed. He’s added 20 pounds since coming to Alabama, but he struggles at times to stack and shed run blockers or set a firm edge. Turner’s frame and game are much less developed than Will Anderson Jr.’s coming out of Alabama last year, so it could take time for him to make his mark as a starting 3-4 outside linebacker.â€
Watch all rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft on WAAY tonight, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Indianapolis, IN - March 1, 2024 - Lucas Oil Stadium: Portrait of Dallas Turner during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. (Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)
Atlanta, GA - December 2, 2023 - Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Dallas Turner (15) of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2023 SEC Championship.
(Photo by Adam Hagy / ESPN Images)
