Tag: Dalton Risner

Zulgad: Dalton Risner’s exit (so far) leaves questions for the Vikings at guard

The offensive line will be key for the Vikings, especially if they have a rookie quarterback. Dalton Risner’s future leaves questions.

The Minnesota Vikings appeared to have found a solution at left guard last season when veteran Dalton Risner took over for Ezra Cleveland after Cleveland was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the trade deadline. Cleveland was set to become a free agent, and the Vikings’ plan to let him walk landed Risner a one-year, $4 million contract in September.

Risner, a second-round pick of Denver in 2019 who spent his first four seasons with the Broncos, started the final 11 games of the season. His performance was often solid but never spectacular.

He finished with a 57.1 ranking from Pro Football Focus, placing him 47th among 83 qualified guards. Risner always has been better as a pass protector than a run blocker and that was the case again. He was 22nd in pass pro and 66th in run blocking.

A day after the NFL’s negotiating window, Dalton posted this message on X:

Nearly a month later, the 28-year-old Dalton remains unsigned. If he isn’t going to return to the Vikings, what does the team plan to do to replace him?

There are four guards currently on the roster, including starting right guard Ed Ingram as well as first-year players Tyrese Robinson and Henry Byrd. Robinson and Byrd signed futures contracts with Minnesota in January. The starting left guard right now would be Blake Brandel, a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020 out of Oregon. Brandel, who is 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, has played in 39 games over three seasons and made five starts.

He was primarily a left tackle at Oregon and started three games at that spot for the injured Christian Darrisaw in 2022. The Vikings are set at the tackle spots with Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, but the guard positions are a different story. That’s why it was notable that Brandel got two late-season starts in 2023 on the right side in place of the injured Ingram.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has spoken highly of Brandel and praised his ability to play multiple spots.

That praise was backed up in March when Brandel, a restricted free agent, was signed to a three-year, $9.5 million contract that reportedly includes $4.75 million in guarantees. This is far from breaking the bank but it also serves as an indication of how the Vikings feel about him and his potential.

As they did with Ingram in the 2022 draft, the Vikings could look to this month’s draft to try to find their left guard, or they could wait until Risner’s price tag falls, as it did a year ago.

Those moves both carry plenty of risk, considering Ingram’s struggles served as a reminder of just how difficult it can be to step into a starting job, and Risner could decide to sign with another team. Brandel also isn’t a sure thing, but it’s become pretty clear that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell don’t have much desire to spend at a position where the top players are now getting “a bag,” as Risner stated.

Considering the importance of protecting the investment the Vikings might be making at quarterback, this logic either seems to be flawed or serves as an indication that Brandel is ready to become a starter. Either way, it looks like a risk the Vikings’ brass is willing to take.

15 free agent offensive linemen the Seahawks could consider signing

Here are 15 free agents who could be on the Seahawks’ list.

Seahawks general manager John Schenider told ESPN 710 radio last week that the team would be hosting a couple veteran free agent offensive linemen in this second phase of free agency. Schneider was not so kind as to include the names of the players who will be visiting the VMAC, presumably some time this week.

While we don’t know who, we can make some educated guesses. Based on what their roster looks like right now, we can probably assume the team is interested primarily in interior offensive linemen who have at least a few years of experience playing in the NFL.

For one thing, the team is already set at tackle with Charles Cross, Abe Lucas, Stone Forsythe, George Fant and Raiqwon O’Neal rounding out the OT rotation. So, we’ll ignore tackles for now. The team does have a couple of options at center. However, neither of them have much experience at this level. So, we’ll include a few names there, but focus mostly on guards who are at least 26 years old. With those parameters in mind, here are 15 free agents who could be on the Seahawks’ list.

Seattle fans respond to ‘rumor’ Tyler Lockett may be expendable

10 best available free agents to fit Raiders needs

10 best available free agents to fit Raiders needs

It’s Friday, which means the end of the work week. It also means it’s been two work weeks since the free agent market opened for business. The Raiders handled their number one business, which was to land top free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. His addition along with the return of Adam Butler and John Jenkins helped to solidify the definsive interior, but that still leaves them with plenty to do to get this team in good shape headed into the draft.

They have some $28.3 million in cap room with which to try and add some upgrades, competition, and insurance at several position still in need. And there is still some talent out there who could provide what they need.

This is the top ten free agents still on the market who could come in and fill a need position for the Raiders.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Dalton Risner: ‘Every option is on the table’

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is keeping every option on the table when it comes to Dalton Risner and left guard.

The Minnesota Vikings have done a great job in free agency so far. They filled holes in multiple spots, especially on the front seven. One of the spots that haven’t been filled is at left guard.

Dalton Risner is a free agent after playing relatively well for the Vikings in 2023, but the Vikings haven’t made a move on him or another free agent guard. They did re-sign Blake Brandel, but he is more of a depth piece.

On Monday, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made an appearance on Paul Allen’s morning show on 100.3 KFAN and spoke about Risner.

“Best available” is the smart play for the Vikings, and with guard contracts becoming more expensive, it sure seems that they are willing to wait until a good deal comes up.

Where does that leave Risner and the Vikings? Well, it’s likely the two will be playing the waiting game until the Vikings either find a starter or decide that Risner is the best option.

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4 players Minnesota Vikings should let walk in free agency

The Minnesota Vikings are set to have 28 free agents this period. Our staff highlighted four players that shouldn’t return to Minnesota.

The Minnesota Vikings are going into a very crucial offseason under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Not only is the starting quarterback in major flux with Kirk Cousins set to be a free agent, but outside linebacker Danielle Hunter is also set to hit the market along with wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darisaw set to receive extensions.

What should the Vikings end up doing in free agency? There are a lot of different options and we are set to explore them all.

First up, our staff took a look at four players the Vikings should let walk.

Players Vikings should re-sign.

1 pending free agent the Colts could target from each NFC team

Taking a look at one pending free agent for the Colts from each NFC team.

With free agency right around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts have the chance to make some key additions to a roster that already has some promise.

Working with some of the most salary-cap space in the NFL this offseason, general manager Chris Ballard and the front office can continue to add pieces to the defensive side of the ball while improving the supporting cast for quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Re-signing some of their own players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II will be key. But they also could look around the conference to bring in some outside talent.

We know Ballard isn’t one to make huge splashes in free agency, but they are still going to be an active team even if it means simply adding depth.

Here’s a look at one pending free agent from each NFC team that should interest the Colts:

6 Offensive linemen the Vikings could pursue in free agency

The Minnesota Vikings need to fortify their offensive line. These six players could be targets for them when free agency begins.

Offensive line is a position group that has haunted the Minnesota Vikings for some time. What has plagued them has been a series of poor draft picks, rough free agent signings and bad development.

Over the last few years, the Vikings have started to find hits, especially at tackle. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are two of the best tackles in the National Football League. On the interior, Ed Ingram is slowly developing and Garrett Bradbury is fine but replaceable.

With the current state of the offensive line, left guard is currently open as are the backup offensive line spots. Who could the Vikings choose to bring in to help fortify the offensive line? One seems like a near certainty at left guard so we focused on rotational guys behind the starters.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent interior offensive linemen

The Panthers’ interior offensive line was decimated by injuries at both guard positions. They’ll keep that in mind this spring.

If any team knows about the importance of interior offensive line depth, it’s the 2023 Carolina Panthers—who fielded six different starters at left guard and seven different starters at right guard. So while Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett will both likely be back, there’s still some work to be done.

Here are the best interior hog mollies the Panthers could take a look at in free agency:

PFF lists Giants as potential landing spot for pair of top guards

Pro Football Focus lists the New York Giants as a potential landing spot for two impending free agent guards.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has his work cut out for him this offseason. There are needs at just about every position and depth has become a long-standing issue in East Rutherford.

Needs along the offensive line are near the top of the list, especially at the guard positions.

Fresh off a season in which the Giants allowed 85 sacks, second-most in NFL history, and ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every O-Line metric, Schoen recognizes that he must add quality bodies.

Pro Football Focus recognizes that as well and recently listed the Giants as a potential landing spot for two of the available free agent guards.

First up is Kevin Dotson of the Los Angeles Rams, whom PFF has ranked as the 23rd-best available free agent.

Dotson earned himself a lot of money in 2023 following a trade to the Los Angeles Rams, earning a career-high 88.8 run-blocking grade. While his pass blocking dipped compared to prior years, a 68.3 mark serving as a career low is a pretty strong floor.

The Giants desperately need to improve the league’s worst offensive line from 2023, and while much will be made of the right tackle spot, where 2022 top-10 pick Evan Neal has really struggled, adding a top-end pass protector next to the right tackle could go a long way in stabilizing the right side of the offensive line.

Dotson’s pass protection regression could be a cause for concern for the Giants but as PFF notes, that is a career anomaly. If it’s a red flag Schoen can’t ignore, their next option is Dalton Risner of the Minnesota Vikings, whom PFF has ranked as the 65th-best available free agent.

The Giants could look to lock down their other guard spot with a good pass-protecting left guard in Risner, who settled in after his late arrival to Minnesota this season.

Either or both of these players would provide an immediate upgrade for the Giants, who desperately need to stabilize their interior offensive line.

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7 Vikings make Pro Football Focus’ top 150 free agents list

From Kirk Cousins to K.J. Osborn, 7 Minnesota Vikings made Pro Football Focus’ top 150 free agents list.

Free agency is going to be an interesting time for the Minnesota Vikings.

When you look at the future for the Vikings, there are a lot of question marks. How will they clear cap space to add talent? Will they be aggressive in the market or prefer to keep their players in house?

Looking at that will be really interesting throughout the next few months because the success they have had over the last two years has been varied. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have some difficult decisions to make.

The Vikings have 28 free agents this offseason and seven of them made Pro Football Focus’ top 150 free agents list.