A near-iron-man starter at Kansas State who has quietly stayed a productive NFL guard for parts of eight seasons across three teams.
Dalton Risner made his name in Denver as a durable second-round guard before his path took him through Minnesota and into a productive reunion of sorts as a free-agent addition, most recently protecting Joe Burrow's interior in Cincinnati.
Path to the league
Risner started 50 of 51 games across his career at Kansas State from 2014 to 2018 and was named an All-American as a senior. Denver selected him in the second round (41st overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Risner started 62 games over four seasons with the Broncos before moving on to Minnesota and later Cincinnati. His consistency as a starter at guard has made him a reliable veteran presence on every offensive line he has joined.
2025 season recap
Signed by Cincinnati as a free agent after training camp in 2025, Risner played in 14 games with 11 starts, nine at right guard and two at left guard, and posted a team-leading 71.5 pass-blocking grade. The performance was strong enough that the Bengals brought him back on a one-year deal for 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dalton Risner
- Pro Football Reference: Dalton Risner
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kansas State
- Hometown
- Wiggins, CO, USA
- Age
- 31
- Status
- active
