The Minnesota Vikings made their second trade-up in the 2024 NFL Draft by acquiring the 17th overall pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars. It wasn't cheap for Minnesota, as they gave up 188 along with third and fourth-round picks in 2025.
They ended up taking Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner who was ninth on the consensus board. He is an athletic monster on defense with an impressive blend of size and explosiveness. At Alabama, he was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by dominating the top competition.
Now, that's not to say that he's without flaws. There isn't a lot of polish to his game and he needs to develop a pass rush plan to be the best he can be.
NFL analysts graded the Vikings' selection of Turner and they were very positive.
Dallas Turner 2024 NFL Draft grades
NFL.com's Chad Reuter: A-
The Vikings moved up one spot to grab McCarthy, presumably to box out Denver and Las Vegas. He did not throw 40 times per game in Michigan's run-heavy offense, but he has plenty of arm, excellent mobility and accuracy throwing to either side of the field. He can surprise with his open-field speed, and his ability to win games at the high school and collegiate levels carries weight with NFL teams. While not a physical specimen, he is similarly built to C.J. Stroud and other quarterbacks recently drafted with top-10 picks. The Vikings made a pre-draft trade with the Texans to get a second first-round selection (23rd overall) and then moved up from that spot to nab Turner. His 4.46 40 turned heads at the combine, but he still fell, thanks to the rush for quarterbacks and likely also because of his average size for the position (6-2 3/4-inch, 247 pounds). He uses that low center of gravity and 34 3/8-inch arms to separate from blockers playing the run and long-arm them into the quarterback when in pass-rush mode. He's a very good value at 17, even though today's trade ate away at the team's mid-round capital, both this year and next. This draft is lean at edge rusher, and the Vikings decided to go for it.
USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: B
Brian Flores, meet your new favorite weapon. Turner figures to be an absolute wrecking ball off the edge, and Flores should have plenty of fun figuring out how to best deploy him on blitzes. Acquiring No. 23 from the Texans and then moving up again to land Turner is questionable management of draft capital, but the edge rush looked due for another piece after swapping in Jonathan Greenard for Danielle Hunter this offseason.
Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski: B
The Indianapolis Colts started a run on defensive prospects by selecting Laiatu Latu, and the Seattle Seahawks followed with Byron Murphy II. At No. 17, Minnesota saw the moment to strike for the defensive player with arguably the most upside overall in this year's class. The Vikings needed to move a fifth-round pick and a pair of 2025 middle-round picks to trade up, but they're gaining an explosive edge to pair with the offseason additions of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. That should help them replace the production of Danielle Hunter and DJ Wonnum, both of whom left this offseason. Turner's upside justifies the risk of giving up a few later-round picks.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco: A
Love this move to go get Turner. He will be the best edge player in this class. The Vikings have had a lot of success with edge players and he fits with what Brian Flores wants to do.
Fox Sports' Rob Rang: B+
Seeking to replace longtime star Danielle Hunter, the Vikings got a little lucky in this draft with Turner — the elite athlete among these edge rushers — falling into their lap. Turner is tantalizing with his burst, bend and upside. He's not yet very instinctive or technically refined, however, and might need some time to put it all together. Often compared to his college predecessor, Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans, Turner actually projects as an even better pass rusher than the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year. But he isn't nearly as good (at least not yet) against the run.
Yahoo! Sports' Staff: B+
Turner’s draft slide officially comes to an end with the Vikings trading up to get him in an effort to replace Danielle Hunter. Turner isn’t a finished product, but he’s a rugged defender that managed to run a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He’s got the potential to be a dynamite edge defender in the NFL.
Sports Illustrated's Cory Kinnan and Tyler Forness: A
The Vikings trade up for a second time tonight. First it was for their quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and now they land the explosive pass rusher from Alabama in Dallas Turner. They gave up quite a bit to move up six spots, giving the Jaguars pick No. 167 this year, a 2025 third rounder, and a 2025 fifth rounder. However, after two defensive players went before him, it is hard to blame Minnesota for coming up to get him. Especially after losing Danielle Hunter this offseason.