Vikings' Greenard plan hints at bigger role for Turner

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner. Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Vikings' Jonathan Greenard plan hints at bigger role for Dallas Turner in 2026

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 3:32 PM ET

Now seems like the perfect time to buy stock in Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner.

On Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the Vikings are open to trading one-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Greenard. Fellow ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler added that teams believe that Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for the pass-rusher, who turns 29 on May 25.

Greenard — who is entering the third year of a four-year, $76M deal in 2026 — should attract suitors. If the Vikings can't find a trade partner, he could become a salary-cap casualty. Minnesota is $44.3M over the cap, via Spotrac. Plus, it can afford to move on from the LB after Turner flashed star potential in 2025.

Dallas Turner should be in for a bigger role in 2026

Greenard remained effective in 2025 but battled a nagging left shoulder injury throughout the season, limiting him to 12 games. This gave 2024 first-round pick Turner more opportunities, and he took advantage.

Per Pro Football Reference, Turner tied Greenard for the team lead in pressures (24) this past season. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star also recorded eight sacks in 17 games after logging just three during his rookie season.

Teams I've talked to believe Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for Greenard. https://t.co/E6EW4qi4QR
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 3, 2026

"Can't have Dallas Turner as a backup going into Year 3," wrote ESPN's Jordan Reid on X after the Greenard news broke. "He showed enough promise last year, and Minnesota needs the cap relief. Greenard is a good player on a great contract."

Other edge-rushers have benefited from similar moves, such as Denver Broncos LB Nik Bonitto. During the 2023 season, the Broncos traded DE/LB Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, giving the 2022 second-round pick more snaps. Since then, he has emerged as one of the NFL's top pass-rushers.

In 2024, Bonitto earned a second-team All-Pro nod after tallying 13.5 sacks in 17 regular-season games. He was even better this past season, registering a career-high 14 sacks and finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The Vikings hope Turner follows a similar trajectory to Bonitto's. There's reason to believe he will.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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