2 KEY QUESTIONS FOR VIKINGS OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Will Greenard & Van Ginkel Repeat Their Impact on 2024 Vikings?
As noted above, Greenard and Van Ginkel were a force to be reckoned with in their debut Vikings season.
Will they be able to replicate that success during the upcoming season?
There’s really no reason to believe otherwise, as the two now have an entire year in the system under their belts and are wisely and creatively utilized by Flores.
Greenard and Van Ginkel both stayed healthy last season and have looked good throughout OTAs and minicamp practices. After enjoying a brief summer hiatus (during which Van Ginkel announced he and his wife Sam are expecting a third son in December), the duo is raring to go for another campaign in Purple.
2. What Does Year 2 Look Like for Dallas Turner?
The intangibles are there for Turner, and he consistently took steps forward throughout his rookie season. Is it reasonable to expect a significant uptick in productivity from the 2024 first-round pick?
Turner last season played in 16 games and totaled 300 defensive snaps, recording 20 tackles, 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, one pass defensed and an interception. He spoke with Twin Cities media members during minicamp and acknowledged the learning curve he navigated in Year 1, while also emphasizing increased comfortability and focus heading into Year 2.
Turner told reporters he’s “way ahead” at this point in the offseason from where he was 12 months ago, both physically and mentally.
“I feel pretty strong,” said the 22-year-old, who boasted a bulked-up frame this spring. “Been in the lab a lot during the offseason, having the opportunity and time to see what I really need to work on physically and attack it head-on. … I’ve been putting in a lot of extra time, and it’s starting to show.”