Dalton Risner had a small Cholula bottle in his locker last season. The Minnesota Vikings gave into the fans’ will and signed him before their Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Immediately, he placed the bottle in the upper-left-hand corner of his locker, and it stayed until he cleaned it out after Week 17. Risner had visited August at Minnesota’s facility, but he needed some time to figure out where everything was. Although he enjoyed the cuisine they offered, there were times when he needed something more.
The Vikings’ defense is akin to that of Risner’s previous team, the Denver Broncos. In the past, Risner collaborated with Justin Rascati, the assistant offensive line coach, and Chris Kuper, the offensive line coach for Minnesota. Risner still needed roughly a month to get the offensive down pat. After Ezra Cleveland was wounded in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears, he played 10 snaps and started the remaining games at left guard.
Risner remains a free agent despite Minnesota’s need at left guard. Blake Brandel is projected to start there this year, and by making him a full-time starter, the Vikings would likely be extending their 2020 sixth-round pick. Risner, meanwhile, did a decent job of guarding passes last season. Still, his play might not have had as much of an impact on his perception as his attitude and the steadiness he gave to the role.
The Vikings sent Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars in late October in exchange for a sixth-round selection. But Risner was outplayed by Cleveland in Minnesota the previous year. Although PFF gave Cleveland greater overall and run-blocking grades, Risner received a higher score for pass blocking. Risner’s relative athletic score (RAS) was 7.96, whereas Cleveland’s was 9.98 out of 10.
The Vikings took Cleveland in the second round of the 2020 draft, and he was in the final year of his rookie contract. Jacksonville extended for three years, $24 million ($14.25 million guaranteed). Given Minnesota’s cap scenario, which might have been feasible if he had satisfied the demand for a left guard but would have been costly. In contrast, last season Risner inked a $3 million, one-year contract.
Should the league consider Risner and Cleveland to be comparable players, Risner’s annual salary could reach $9.5 million. The Vikings’ cap predicament would make that challenging. In talks, winning teams frequently take advantage of their nearness to a postseason run. Both sides of the ball are talented in Minnesota, and they believe J.J. McCarthy will fit right in with their way of life. But they’ll probably start Sam Darnold at quarterback, and the NFC North ought to be among the football leagues with the most competitive divisions the next season.
The bigger question with Risner is whether he drives a hard bargain. Teams value guards more than ever, and Risner’s strength is pass-blocking in a passing league. Therefore, he’s wise to hold out for the right contract. On the other hand, players typically perform when they are in the proper environment and attend camp as a team. For Risner, waiting too long to get the greatest bargain might be both pennywise and pound stupid.
In case anyone was curious, Risner tweeted a while back. “In my five years in the league, I’ve started 73 games, missing only four because of injury, and I’ve earned the starting position under three different coaching staffs. I only ever wanted a starting guard deal; I never asked for a bag.
When Risner moved to Minnesota last year, he likewise talked about his market and declared that he wasn’t waiting to get the best offer. He claimed that because he thought other clubs were lowballing him, he decided to wait until Week 3 to sign.
After signing last year, Risner declared, “I’m not a guy that thinks I’ve got to get everything I’m worth, or even half, or even a quarter.” “Listen, I didn’t want to play football because of what some of these teams did; all I wanted to do was play.” came on a trip [to Minnesota], and the trip was wonderful. There was basically a mismatch between where I was and where the Vikings were. Therefore, I believe that they took some time and that certain things—possibly injuries—happened. It was as if to say, “All right, come in now.” “All right, I’m ready to go,” I said. Let’s jam out and have fun.
About why they signed Risner in the middle of the season as opposed to the offseason, the Vikings chose not to comment. It’s reasonable to hypothesize that there was a disagreement during the contract discussions, though. Risner is a usually upbeat person, and his teammates appeared to like having him around. He also meets a necessity on the team. Risner, though, speaks up for a guard, a position group that is normally reserved. Maybe he overpriced them. Perhaps they are seeking a different personality match.
In the end, he might not be able to fit under the Vikings’ cap. Perhaps he infuses the locker room with too much spice. Whatever the situation, Risner is still a free agent, and Minnesota needs a starting guard with experience.
