Bengals finally reinforce their biggest offseason need and give Joe Burrow the last piece he needs to carry them

Risner, the 41st pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has started 81 games in his ongoing seven-year career. He’s played the vast majority of his snaps at left guard, but started nine games at RG for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2024 season and playoffs.

Cincinnati is the Risner's third team of his career, and signing a new contract this late in the offseason is nothing out of the ordinary for him. He first joined the Minnesota Vikings two weeks into the 2023 season and re-signed with the club the following May. He spent the entire offseason awaiting an opportunity elsewhere before one finally opened up for the Bengals with a little over a week until the regular season begins.

Dalton Risner immediately becomes the Bengals' best option at right guard

Relativity, folks. Cincinnati left this offseason with literal scraps at the position. Lucas Patrick who signed as a free agent in March, struggled in both preseason starts and has been dinged up for parts of training camp. Cody Ford didn't do much in terms of pushing him and is now injured as well. Cordell Volson was the next viable option, but he suffered a shoulder injury and is out for the year. This left 2025 fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers to play meaningful snaps, and while he showed promise in preseason action, it's tough to have two rookie guards blocking for Joe Burrow in Week 1. Third-round pick Dylan Fairchild is going to start at left guard.

As a result, only eight offensive linemen made the initial 53-man roster. They knew an outside answer had to arrive, and that answer is Risner.

Risner on the other-hand has been the definition of solid for many years. He’s never had a season in which he was charged with more than four sacks allowed or was penalized more than three times. He fits an offense that likes to air it out, which describes the Bengals more than any other team.

It's not guaranteed Risner will start Week 1 or at all, but his resume for doing so is significantly stronger than his new teammates.

Risner can give Joe Burrow the best offensive line he's ever had

O-line issues have consistently plagued the Bengals and their quarterback. Even when there was solid talent starting at some spots, obvious liabilities elsewhere along the line were too easily identifiable by opposing defenses.

Risner may not be a world-beater at RG, but if he gets the chance to start and plays like he's done so for the majority of his career, he at least prevents the position from being the clear liability it's been for most of Burrow's career.

Orlando Brown Jr., Fairchild, Ted Karras, Risner, and Amarius Mims. That's easily the best group of starters that's ever been in front of Burrow.

On top of being their best option to start, Risner’s ties to the Bengals can be found with pass game coordinator Justin Rascati. Rascati was a part of offensive coaching staffs for both the Denver Broncos and Vikings during three of Risner’s first four years in the league.

Risner himself even stated back in the spring he would “LOVE” to be a Bengal this year. The pairing is so obvious that his visit earlier this month should've just resulted in a signed contract.

For a team with Super Bowl aspirations (because of their QB) and a recent history of o-line issues, it’s frankly absurd Cincinnati let the RG situation deteriorate to this level with the season 11 days away. Signing Risner has the potential to be an immense help, and not a single moment too soon.