Another Dalton Risner Update
Josh Frey
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One of this offseason’s remaining questions for the Minnesota Vikings has revolved around their starting left guard spot.
A main reason for that question is the status of Dalton Risner, who started the final 11 games of the 2023 season for the Vikings at the position. Now, Risner is in free agency, and there has been very little in terms of news regarding the offensive lineman potentially returning to Minnesota.
This week, there was some new information as to what may be happening with the left guard.
The Latest on Dalton Risner
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reported this week, “The Vikings’ left guard situation still seems a bit uncertain. Blake Brandel is the leader in the clubhouse. The Vikings could pursue another option in the draft. They could also sign a free agent like Dalton Risner, who has switched agents since the beginning of free agency and is represented by Drew Rosenhaus.”
Rosenhaus is widely regarded as one of the best agents in professional sports, and Risner obviously is hoping that he can help to land a strong deal with an NFL team. The left guard has been frustrated by the fact that this deal has not been secured to this point.
He took to social media earlier this offseason, tweeting, “Just In case anyone was wondering… I’ve started 73 games over 5 years in the league… missing only 4 games due to injury… earning the starting spot amongst 3 different coaching staffs… I’ve never asked for a bag, simply just a starting guard contract.”
Vikings fans will remember that Risner was connected to the team for a good chunk of the 2023 offseason, but he didn’t land a deal with Minnesota until Week 2 had concluded.
Risner’s first lengthy free agency stint came after he spent his first four seasons with the Denver Broncos after he was selected by the team in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He started at least 15 games in each of his four seasons with the Broncos.
Now, he is once again waiting on the free agency market for what seems to be very little reason. He is a steady enough player to hold down a starting role as he’s proven for each of his five seasons in the NFL.
Six days after Risner’s tweet, Paul Allen of KFAN asked Kwesi Adofo-Mensah about the left guard’s potential return, and the general manager replied, “Where we’ve wanted to be is best available. That’s where we’ve tried to set ourselves up both in a draft and acquisition standpoint. So every option is on the table. That’s all I can say about that.”
There seemed to be very little optimism in that answer for Risner to return to the Vikings. As a result, the veteran remains on the open market hoping that Rosenhaus can work his magic to land him a new contract.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.