Following his All-American junior season at Alabama, Dallas Turner became the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, his career with the Minnesota Vikings got off to a slow start with just three sacks in his rookie season.
Now, eying a breakout in Year 2, Turner revealed that he found a new mentor to help navigate the offseason, and he couldn’t have chosen a more perfect one.
Dallas Turner spent a lot of time working out and studying with Jonathan Greenard this offseason:
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 25, 2025
“Right after the season… [Greenard and I] were hitting it strong in the weight room, watching film, picking each other’s brain. He has a lot of knowledge. He’s one of the best vets… pic.twitter.com/FaISJwarGT
Dallas Turner seeking Year 2 breakout with Jonathan Greenard’s guidance
Not nearly as hyped as Turner, Jonathan Greenard was a third-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2020, but like Turner, his rookie season was underwhelming. Greenard had just one sack in 2020 and only started one of the 13 games he played in. Then, he found his footing and was quietly one of the most improved players in the league, finishing with eight sacks and 27 QB pressures in 2021.
Greenard’s upward trajectory continued, despite an injury in 2022, and this past season he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Now 28 years old, Greenard is coming off back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and is the ideal mentor for Turner, who is desperately seeking to flip the same switch Greenard did early in his career.
Though not as dominant as his predecessor, Will Anderson Jr., who played with Greenard in Houston before Greenard signed with Minnesota in free agency, Turner recorded 15 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his junior season with the Crimson Tide. He won with speed and length on the edge, but without the same distinct physical advantages that he had against college offensive tackles, Turner posted just a 6.3 percent pass rush win-rate last season.
His comments about seeking guidance from Greenard have been encouraging, both to Minnesota fans and Alabama fans hoping for a turnaround from Turner. However, early returns from Vikings training camp aren’t so promising.
Just noticed Walter Rouse pushing Dallas Turner off the screen lol #yikes https://t.co/PIFsS488BJ
— Phoenix (@dalvincookin) July 27, 2025
Turner has often been matched up with 2024 6th-round pick Walter Rouse, and in that clip above and others, Rouse has gotten the best of him. Year 2 will be a massive one for Turner. Here’s hoping that Greenard’s wisdom pays off.