With mock draft season in full effect, some mock drafts will be more unorthodox than others, whether through methodology or the picks themselves. The NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund chose to use a more analytics-based approach and decide what picks would be best for success in the upcoming season.
For the Minnesota Vikings at pick 11, Frelund decided to stay the traditional course and pick Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.
Turner’s burst ranks among the top 20 percent of edge prospects in my 10-season sample. He doesn’t lose speed/velocity when traveling in a non-straight line, which means his pressures cause disruption more frequently (he posted 10 sacks last season, up from four as a sophomore). I’m pretty sure defensive coordinator Brian Flores would give GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah a hand-written thank-you note if Turner ends up the choice here.
At 6’4″, 252 pounds, Turner has the perfect size for the edge rusher position. Add in his explosion and ability to string pass-rush moves together, and the Vikings should have a day-one contributor in Turner.
