Shocking Training Camp Risers: 4 Vikings Defenders Ready to Break Out

The Minnesota Vikings won’t kick off their preseason until August 9 when they host the Houston Texans, but training camp officially begins on Saturday, July 26. With high expectations for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on how key players return from injury—especially quarterback J.J. McCarthy and left tackle Christian Darrisaw, both of whom are critical to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is back to lead a unit that made big strides in 2023, and while the front seven is considered one of the best in the NFL, there’s still room for breakout players to carve out larger roles in camp.

Dallas Turner (22, OLB)

The biggest name to watch is 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner. After the Vikings traded up to select him, he played 16 games as a rookie but saw limited action behind a strong pass-rush rotation. With Jonathan Greenard (12 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5 sacks) still entrenched as starters, Turner’s job now is to increase his impact and earn more snaps in his second year.

With Patrick Jones II gone in free agency after recording seven sacks and 459 snaps (46% of defensive plays), Turner—who played just 300 snaps last year—has an opening to expand his role. Though some questioned his development during his rookie season, a strong training camp could help silence that talk and prove he’s ready to contribute more significantly.

Dwight McGlothern (23, CB)

Cornerback remains one of the team’s more uncertain positions. Byron Murphy Jr. is back, and the team is hoping Isaiah Rodgers can emerge as a starter. With Shaq Griffin gone and no major additions brought in, the door is open for competition.

Undrafted out of Arkansas in 2023, McGlothern turned heads last year in training camp but played in just five regular-season games. At 6’2” and 185 pounds, he has the size and raw ability to make a leap in year two—especially with Mekhi Blackmon returning from injury and Jeff Okudah brought in as veteran depth. Okudah has struggled to meet expectations at multiple stops, so McGlothern could work his way up the depth chart quickly with a strong camp showing.

Bo Richter (24, OLB)

With Jones II’s departure creating a gap in the edge rotation, second-year linebacker Bo Richter has a real opportunity. Though he went undrafted out of Air Force, Richter played in 14 games last season, including one start, and even recovered a fumble. He managed eight tackles in just 29 defensive snaps.

Phil Mackey of Skor North has spoken highly of both Richter and fellow undrafted edge rusher Gabriel Murphy, predicting that one of them could outpace even Turner, Van Ginkel, or Greenard in sacks this season. The fourth edge rusher spot is up for grabs, and both Richter and Murphy are strong candidates to fill it.

Taki Taimani (25, NT)

Interior defensive line play has been a weakness for the Vikings in recent years, but the offseason additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave aim to change that. Harrison Phillips is back to anchor the nose tackle position, but depth remains important.

That’s where Taki Taimani could come in. He played in seven games last year before landing on injured reserve and saw just 70 defensive snaps. Now fully healthy and entering training camp on a three-year deal, he has a chance to push for backup reps—especially with injury concerns around the new starters and competition from draft pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and veteran Jalen Redmond.