The hype train for Dallas Turner this summer isn’t necessarily out of control, but it exists nevertheless. A lane is finally clear for Turner to be featured as a full-time starter, and according to Bleacher Report, that works out great because he’s one of the most underrated players in the NFL.

Alex Kay published the list this week, exploring the league’s five most underrated commodities, and Turner got a tap on the shoulder.

Greenard’s Exit Turns Turner’s Hype into a Real Job

Turner = One of NFL’s Most Underrated, per BR

Most Vikings fans would call Turner under-utilized, but BR rolled with underrated.

Kay explained, “Turner struggled to grasp the defensive coordinator Brian Flores‘ system as a rookie and was relegated to a meager 28 percent snap share. After mustering 20 tackles and three sacks across 16 games, he narrowly avoided the dreaded draft bust label but certainly didn’t do enough to warrant the costs of acquiring him.”

“That changed in 2025 when the 23-year-old finally figured things out and dialed in. He received a big bump in playing time (logging a 66 percent snap share on the year) while appearing in all 17 games and starting 10. He finished the campaign with 66 tackles, eight sacks and four forced fumbles—a sizable jump in production for the youngster, one that went relatively unnoticed due to the bulk of his sack production occurring in the back half of Minnesota’s dismal campaign.”

The Vikings traded a king’s ransom to get Turner during the 2024 NFL Draft. They need him to be good.

Kay added, “Turner racked up 6.5 of his sacks between Weeks 11-18, including two in the season finale. He’s now primed to build on that impressive finish by stepping into a more prominent role following the departure of Jonathan Greenard — the Pro Bowl edge-rusher who played 74 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps last year.”

“If Turner seizes that opportunity and continues his current trajectory, he’ll have few issues shedding the underrated tag and becoming a renowned Pro Bowler.”

He’s Free …

Alas, Turner is free to be deployed in the Vikings’ defense with no Pro Bowl defender in front of him on the depth chart. It took two years. Minnesota no longer has to wonder when Turner will play full-time; that question has effectively answered itself. Turner demonstrated enough late in the 2025 season to earn a larger role, and with Greenard’s departure, his path to increased playing time is now uncontested.

Had Greenard signed an extension, Turner likely would have remained behind both Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel for another year. While that would have presented a beneficial problem for the Vikings, it would have been detrimental for a former 1st-Round pick striving to become a game-changer.

Now, Turner will receive the opportunity everyone has anticipated. Minnesota can build its outside linebacker room around him and Van Ginkel, then acquire a solid OLB3 to ensure a smooth rotation. That might involve bringing in a veteran like Jadeveon Clowney or Leonard Floyd, particularly if the Vikings aim to manage Turner’s workload initially.

Stats to Date Agree with Kay’s Assessment

In his second year, Turner finally began to embody the potential Minnesota saw when trading up for him.

When Greenard sustained an injury, Turner stepped into a more prominent role, and his snap count surged to 66%. From that point, his production increased, concluding the season with 8 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. He also added 11 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles — a stat line indicative of a burgeoning pass rusher.

It was the version Vikings fans eagerly awaited.

His rookie year in 2024 was more challenging to assess, as he played only 28% of defensive snaps. Nevertheless, Turner showed flashes despite limited work, recording 3 sacks and 5 quarterback hits, along with 3 tackles for loss and 1 interception, giving Minnesota enough encouragement to remain patient.

By November of his second season, most of the hesitation surrounding Turner had dissipated. He appeared more comfortable in Brian Flores’s defense, which made sense because not every rookie is game-ready. After all, Turner was 21 in 2024.

He concluded the year with a 65.5 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 70.2 pass-rushing score. He’s on the right track

One More Year before Extension Chatter, Believe It or Not

Just like quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Turner has a lot riding on the 2026 campaign because he can reasonably begin talking with the Vikings’ front office about an extension next offseason. In fact, Minnesota has until May 2027 to decide whether to exercise Turner’s fifth-year rookie option, a decision that is up in the air right now but probably trending in his favor.

It’s not quite a “make or break” season, but if Turner logs double-digit sacks and fully solidifies himself as a long-term starter, he can instruct his agent to engage new general manager Nolan Teasley for an extension that may pay him $25 million per season.

It feels like the Vikings drafted Turner yesterday, but in reality, fans are about seven months away from pondering his extension value. Time flies.

Turner will turn 24 next February.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Satin Summer’s accumulated experience from the latter stages of her two-year-old season is expected to provide a solid foundation for her return in an off-season race at Rosehill.

Trained by Michael Freedman, a conditioner well-regarded for his juvenile success, Satin Summer defeated Zambales, the eventual runner-up in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, on her debut in January. She subsequently finished fifth in the Lonhro Plate (1000m) behind Agrarian Girl.

Tim Clark will have his inaugural race-day ride aboard the filly in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) this Saturday. Following a recent barrier trial win on Satin Summer, he believes her early race experience will be invaluable against a field that includes the promising debut winner Omolong from Chris Waller’s stable.

“Yes, there are some nice horses coming through and Chris’ horse won well at the midweeks, but she’s in her second preparation and she’ll be ready to go,” Clark stated.

“She is a pretty sharp type of filly. I had a sit on her Tuesday morning as well, and was very happy with her work.

“She is a really straightforward, easy sort of filly to do anything with. She knows her job, and she is well educated.

“I think she is going to look the winner at some stage in the straight.”

The juvenile event has attracted a respectable lineup, featuring the $850,000 yearling purchase Omolong and Bjorn Baker-trained debutant Kotor, who also fetched the same price at auction and remains unbeaten in two trials.

Clark’s mounts also include Mo Chroi, a four-year-old import from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The horse was exported to Australia after two starts in Ireland, highlighted by a win over middle distances.

Mo Chroi made an immediate impact in his local career with a 1550m victory at Canterbury last month. While Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2000m) represents a step up in class, Clark is relying on the horse’s potential to handle the challenge.

“Gai and Adrian seem to have a really good record at getting the imports ready to go first time out, generally over a bit further than what he ran in,” Clark explained.

“It was good to see him be sharp enough and have that good tactical speed and be able to race on pace over a shorter journey.

“He’s jumping in grade, and it wasn’t a strong race at the midweeks, but he’s getting out to the right distance, and soft ground won’t be any concern.”

With the Thank You ATC Members Handicap approaching, savvy punters might want to check out the latest racing odds at various Australian betting sites.

Tonight, the Athletics kick off a three-game Independence Day weekend series against the Miami Marlins, who have been arguably the hottest team in baseball, as evidenced by their MLB-best 20-6 record in June. After dropping two of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, the A’s will look to bounce back against the Marlins in the second and final series of the team’s latest homestand.

Earlier today, the “Green and Gold” shook up their bullpen, activating Mark Leiter Jr. off the injured list and welcoming back Jose Suarez from the paternity list. The team made room in its bullpen by designating right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb and left-hander Matt Krook for assignment. The two journeymen relievers will likely either clear waivers and remain in the organization, most likely at Triple-A Las Vegas, or be claimed by another club.

Jeffery Simmons had a front-row seat as Cam Ward started his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. The All-Pro defensive tackle played 15 games in Ward’s rookie campaign.

Simmons sat down with Terron Armstead on “The Set” and made his feelings known about the Miami Hurricanes product. The host asked,

“What did you see from him (Cam Ward) in his rookie year? What would you like to see from him moving forward?”

Simmons replied,

“We know it comes with being the number one overall pick. I see and see the work continuously from Cam.

“From every day being the first one at the building. To see them type of things, you can feel and you can tell the will that he really wanna be the best he could be.

“The presence that he bring and the energy that Cam bring is rubbing off, continuing to rub off on the offense. And I’m excited for it.”

Cam Ward had a rough rookie year that saw him muster a stat line of 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.. The 2025 No. 1 pick led the Titans to just three wins, marking their fourth straight losing season.

What’s next for Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward?

Jeffery Simmons is gearing up for his eighth season with the Titans. The Titans selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Simmons is one of the team’s best defensive players, and he’s earned one first-team All-Pro selection, two second-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl invitations. He’s fresh off his maiden first-team All-Pro selection after racking up 67 total tackles (39 solo), 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 21 quarterback hits in 15 games.

Cam Ward has loads of room for improvement ahead of Year 2. The promising signal-caller was regularly tracked down by opposing pass rushers, and he scored just two rushing touchdowns.

Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward will look to inspire the Titans to their first playoff appearance since 2021. The Titans last reached the postseason in the Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry era. They’ll look to end that painful drought in the upcoming campaign.