Bengals Sign Dalton Risner: The Late-Summer Move That Saved a Season
It’s the kind of move that usually gets buried in the scroll. Late August, training camp winds are dying down, and the roster is basically set. Then, out of nowhere, the Cincinnati Bengals sign Dalton Risner.
Honestly, if you were watching the preseason, you saw the writing on the wall. The interior of the line was looking shaky. Lucas Patrick was grinding but got banged up. Cordell Volson was fighting for his life out there. Joe Burrow’s health is the only thing that actually matters in Cincinnati, and the front office finally blinked. They realized that "hoping for the best" isn't a strategy when you have a $275 million franchise centerpiece behind center.
Risner isn't just some camp body. He’s a guy who has started 80-plus games in this league. When the news broke on August 28, 2025, it felt like a collective sigh of relief from the 513 area code.
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Why It Took So Long
It’s kinda wild how Dalton Risner has become the king of late signings. He did it with the Vikings, and he did it again here. He’s a guy who knows his worth, and clearly, he wasn't going to take a league-minimum flyer just to get into a locker room in June. The Bengals got him on a one-year deal worth about $1.3 million—absolute pocket change for a starting-caliber guard in today’s NFL.
People always ask: "If he's so good, why was he sitting on his couch in August?"
NFL front offices can be stubborn. There was a narrative that he wasn't a "scheme fit" for certain zone-heavy systems. But look at the tape from 2025. He stepped in during Week 1 against the Browns after Lucas Patrick went down, and he didn't look back. He played 11 games, started most of them, and brought a level of "nasty" that this unit has lacked since maybe the Whitworth days.
The Amarius Mims Factor
The coolest part of the Bengals signing Dalton Risner wasn't even about Risner himself. It was what it did for the kid. Amarius Mims, the mountain of a man the Bengals took in the first round in '24, looks like a different player when Risner is next to him.
Mims is a physical freak, but he’s young. He needs a vet who can make the "Mike" calls and pull him back when he gets too aggressive. Earlier this month, in January 2026, Mims was literally campaigning on social media to keep Risner in town. He called him the best right guard in the league. Is he? Maybe not technically, but to a young tackle, having a guy like Risner who communicates every single snap is worth more than any PFF grade.
What the Numbers Actually Say
I know, stats for offensive linemen are usually boring or nonexistent, but the 2025 season told a story.
- Pressures allowed: Only 14 across his starts.
- Sacks: He gave up two. Total.
- The "Vibe" Check: 10/10.
The Bengals' run game has been... well, it’s been a struggle. Let’s be real. Adjusting to life with Chase Brown as the primary back while Joe Burrow works through various lower-body tweaks means the line has to be perfect. Risner isn't a world-beater in the run game—he sometimes overextends looking for those highlight-reel pancakes—but his pass protection is legit.
What Happens Next for Risner and the Bengals?
We are sitting here in early 2026, and the Bengals have a decision to make. Risner is a free agent again. He’s gone on record saying it’s "50/50" if he comes back. He wants a fair deal. He’s tired of the "wait until August" game, and frankly, he’s earned the right to be tired of it.
The Bengals hold the 10th pick in the 2026 draft. They could go O-line again. They could look at a guy like Donovan Jackson if he falls, or even a tackle and move Mims around. But why mess with chemistry?
Actionable Next Steps for the Offseason:
- Pay the Man Early: If the Bengals are smart, they sign Risner before the new league year in March. Don't let him hit the open market where a team like the Giants or Panthers will overpay for a veteran leader.
- Solidify the Right Side: Keep the Mims-Risner duo intact. The continuity is more valuable than the $2-3 million they might save by letting him walk.
- Address Depth: Even with Risner, the drop-off to the backups was scary in 2025. They need to use a mid-round pick on a developmental guard who can learn under Risner’s wing.
Signing Dalton Risner was arguably the best mid-tier move the Bengals made all year. It didn't have the flash of a Ja'Marr Chase touchdown, but it's the reason Burrow had the time to throw those touchdowns in the first place. If they let him walk now, they’re just inviting the same protection issues that have haunted this franchise for half a decade.