Every single team in the league is looking for starting-caliber offensive linemen, yet despite this, Dalton Risner appears to be having trouble finding work on the free agent market. The quarterback is the most important position in sports, so it stands to reason that the men protecting him are crucial to the overall success of the team. The league largely agrees with this principle, as guards like Robert Hunt have been breaking the bank in free agency.
Dalton Risner is not as good as Robert Hunt, but the free agent is certainly a starting-caliber player. First entering the league in 2019, the former second-round pick is a five-year starter with a mostly clean bill of health who finished the 2023 season as the 46th-ranked guard out of 79 eligible players, per Pro Football Focus. Players like that usually land decent contracts in free agency, and the Kansas State product recently took to Twitter to voice frustration at his current market.
Dalton Risner Makes Free Agent Pitch on Social Media
It’s impossible to know exactly how many teams are looking to sign Dalton Risner as a free agent. However, based on the tweet, it’s safe to assume it’s a low number. While Risner isn’t an All-Pro caliber player by any stretch of the imagination, he’s adequate in every aspect of the game and deserves a chance to start somewhere.
With Dalton Risner seeming to fall through the cracks as a free agent, he might be willing to sign a one-year, prove-it contract with a minimal cap hit. With that in mind, these five organizations could roll the dice on a cost-effective starter.
Possible Team Fits
Tennessee Titans
The Tennesee Titans had the worst offensive line in the league last year. While they upgraded the center position with Lloyd Cushenberry, they still need to do something about the other five spots. The Titans entered the legal tampering period with roughly $75 million in cap space, so they should have plenty of money left over to sign a free agent like Dalton Risner.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints had a below-average offensive line in 2023, and that’s not a good thing when your quarterback is Derek Carr. Carr can be effective with the right supporting cast, but he’s one of the worst in the league when it comes to handling pressure. Dennis Allen will not be back if the Saints endure another losing season, so New Orleans needs to do everything in their power to put Carr in a position to succeed. The fact Dalton Risner sent out the initial tweet implies there isn’t much of a market for his services, so perhaps New Orleans could sign the free agent on a cheap one-year deal.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens already lost John Simpson, and they have plenty more free agents set to leave in the coming days. This team will to replace one guard, and that’s assuming they find a way to re-sign Kevin Zeitler. Any team losing this much talent will usually have to go bargain shopping, and Dalton Risner is one of the better values on the free agent market. On top of that, the veteran would probably love the opportunity to clear rushing lanes for Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson.
Minnesota Vikings
This is always a boring choice, but why wouldn’t the Minnesota Vikings want to bring back Dalton Risner as a free agent? With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, the Vikings have plenty of additional spending money to bolster the rest of the roster. While they’ve already used a decent chunk of change on guys like Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, Risner would help make life considerably easier for Sam Darnold and whoever the team drafts in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions owed a sizable portion of their 2023 success to their stalwart offensive line. Unfortunately, the unit will be a bit weaker this year following Jonah Jackson’s departure. While Jackson is the better player, Dalton Risner is still a reliable starter and a smart cost-effective free agent replacement. This offensive line is loaded with star-caliber talent, so they can get away with just having a decent starter at guard.
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