Packers-Themed Website Makes Ludicrous Claim about Vikings

Sep 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers fans wearing cheese heads and tops during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports. A Green Bay Packers-themed website observed a contract extension this week and decided the Minnesota Vikings had mailed it in on their 1st-Round draft pick from 2024. Packers-Themed Website Makes Ludicrous Claim about Vikings The site, Dairyland Express — yes, it’s really called that — watched as Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah handed outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel a one-year extension on Tuesday for $23 million and used the transaction to claim that Dallas Turner is a “failure.” You cannot make it up. “Dairyland Express” Says Dallas Turner Is a Failed Draft Pick Chris Schad of Dairyland Express — Schad also writes about the Vikings and may even be a fan of the team — was the culprit. Apr 25, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker D. Turner poses after being selected by the Minnesota as the No. 17 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. He wrote, “One NFC North rival is finding that out the hard way and may have just admitted their mistake with an announcement on Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings announced that they signed Andrew Van Ginkel to a one-year, $23 million contract extension on Tuesday afternoon. The deal keeps Van Ginkel in Minnesota through the 2026 season and keeps a key part of Brian Flores’s defense in place.” “The Vikings have played damage control throughout the offseason citing the emergence of Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard as reasons Turner didn’t see the field. Head coach Kevin O’Connell also pumped Turner’s tires ahead of his second season, telling NFL Network he expects a ‘huge jump’ from Turner this season.” There is no evidence anywhere of Minnesota doing “damage control” regarding Turner. Schad persisted: “This all sounds great but giving $23 million to a pass rusher who will turn 30 in July sends a different message. Maybe Turner is on ‘The Jordan Love Plan’ and the 22-year-old will find his way entering his second season. But the signs aren’t pointing to a sudden breakout, which leaves the Vikings whiffing on a massive gamble.” Dallas Turner Evidence from Dairyland Express Schad used the following rationale to deem Turner a failure: “With two first-round picks, the Vikings figured they had a better shot of trading up for a top prospect such as Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. But when the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots selected both quarterbacks, Minnesota settled for J.J. McCarthy (10th overall) and tried to salvage their previous decision by trading up for Turner.” “ESPN’s Seth Walder was among those who questioned the trade at the time and theorized that the Vikings ‘basically spent two mid-firsts’ on Turner. While the picks were a little devalued thanks to Minnesota’s 14-3 season, Turner didn’t do much to validate the deal in his rookie season.” Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota outside linebacker A. Van Ginkel (43) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images. Most considered the Turner trade quite expensive, but sensible onlookers are willing to be patient with Turner’s development. Schad concluded, “Turner started the season with a sack in the opening game against the New York Giants but his snap counts dwindled until he played a season-low three snaps in a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His snap count climbed into the 20s for five of the final six games of the regular season (including a 34-snap performance against the Chicago Bears), but Turner wasn’t productive, logging 12 pressures and three sacks on 151 pass-rushing snaps.” Why Dallas Turner Is Not a “Failure” Minnesota employed Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel as starting outside linebackers in 2024. Both men reached the Pro Bowl. Full stop. To afford Turner, a 21-year-old rookie, a full-time workload, Minnesota would’ve had to bench Greenard or Van Ginkel solely for the purposes of appeasing websites like Dairyland Express that might call him a bust six months later. Minnesota outside linebacker D. Turner at the first day of rookie minicamp on May 10th, 2024, in Eagan, Minnesota. TCO Performance Center. Turner was drafted by the Vikings with the 17th overall pick on April 25th, 2024 in Detroit. Teams can’t bench Pro Bowlers to satisfy future Packers fans’ critiques. It’s not smart business. And it goes without saying that Turner routinely made splashy plays when Flores tossed him on the field. The Super Bowl-Winning Model from the Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles just won a Super Bowl because their defensive line showcased “too many” good players. They had too many productive defensive tackles, along with EDGE depth, for their own good — according to the argued logic. A successful roster employs depth at every possible position, and Minnesota has that at outside linebacker. Refusing to extend Van Ginkel because Turner needed more playing time would teeter on mind-bogglingly horrid roster construction. Vikings Not the Only Team with 3 Prominent Pass Rushers Minnesota, ensuring it has three productive outside linebackers, isn’t some novel concept. The best teams in the NFL are stacked with pass rushers, and in fact, the Vikings are merely keeping pace. Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on October 16th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed. An argument can be made that “only Greenard and Van Ginkel” isn’t enough OLB juice if a franchise wants to contend for a Super Bowl. That’s why Turner is in the house.