JUNE 4: The Vikings may end up having Risner back at less than his 2023 salary. The base value of Risner’s second Minnesota contract checks in at $1.91MM, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. Risner will see a $1.41MM base salary; $600K of that amount is guaranteed. That six-figure sum, along with a $500K signing bonus, bumps the veteran guard’s guarantees here to $1.1MM.
Risner can earn up to $3.2MM on this deal, with Florio adding incentives and roster bonuses are in place. He can collect up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses; additionally, a $200K bonus for being on the Vikings’ Week 1 roster is included. To reach any of the playing time-based incentives, Risner must play at least 75% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps. The three-tiered $750K incentive package ranges from 75-85% snap rates.
MAY 29: Dalton Risner has logged two extensive stays in free agency since his rookie contract expired. For a second straight year, it will be the Vikings who end that period.
The veteran starter has an agreement in place to stay in Minnesota, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Risner will rejoin the Vikings on a one-year deal. The team’s eventual Ezra Cleveland replacement, following a midseason trade, made 11 starts last season.
The past two offseasons have added some unexpected chapters to Risner’s NFL career. A Broncos starter in every game he played with his original franchise, the proven guard did not generate interest in free agency last year — to the point he entered the season unsigned. Although Risner made his way into Minnesota’s lineup early in his tenure, he once again failed to command a lucrative deal in free agency. Another Vikings parachute has emerged, however, and the five-year veteran will be a clear option to start once again.
After a handful of guards with similar experience to Risner scored quality deals as free agents in 2023, this year’s record-setting cap spike brought monster deals for a few. Robert Hunt is now a $20MM-per-year player, while four other guards (Jonah Jackson, Kevin Dotson, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr.) landed pacts worth at least $10MM per annum. Cleveland scored a three-year, $24MM pact to re-sign with the Jaguars. Risner did not join those blockers on PFR’s top 50 free agents list, as last year’s free agency odyssey lowered expectations. But he returned to deliver as a dependable starter for the Vikings, who likely have another low-cost agreement in place with the Kansas State alum.
Pro Football Focus assigned Risner a mid-pack grade at guard (46th) last season, but ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted him ninth. Risner, who played for just more than $2.5MM last season, ran his start count to 73 in 2023. It will be interesting to see the numbers here, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates a 53-man roster bonus and per-game roster bonuses are present in this contract. The Vikes had re-signed Blake Brandel to a one-year, $3.25MM deal. While ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes Brandel worked with Minnesota’s first-stringers at OTAs, Risner’s return figures to affect the veteran backup’s standing.
Beginning his Twin Cities tenure as a backup behind Cleveland and Ed Ingram, Risner became a full-time player once the Vikes traded Cleveland to the Jaguars at the deadline. He initially replaced an injured Cleveland before becoming the team’s replacement. Two years remain on Ingram’s rookie contract, and the Vikes still have Christian Darrisaw tied to a rookie deal. Risner, 28, will now be on track to protect J.J. McCarthy — potentially after a span blocking for Sam Darnold — in 2024.
The Broncos used Risner as a four-season starter, pairing him with veteran guards Ronald Leary and Graham Glasgow before Quinn Meinerz‘s emergence. Sean Payton‘s first offseason in charge led to Ben Powers signing a four-year, $52MM deal. Risner will continue to pursue a significant veteran deal, but he has a path back to a starting role in the meantime.
I like it!
Oh Man! This news is going to have Unclemike on anti-depressants for a while.
It’s a way better move than Harbaugh signing that waste of space Leatherwood.
You campaigned sooo hard to get Risner to sign with the Bears and he turns around and joins a division rival. Ouch! I’d be dropping him from my Christmas card list if I was you.
I guess then you’ll have to explain how the Bears are any better now with having traded their 5th rd. pick for Bates, Trying to convert him into a C( We all saw how well that worked with Patrick), And not signing Risner for less money than Bates makes? Risner could more than cover for Jenkins when he gets hurt or Davis when his dog gets sick and he has to take 2 months off to make sure it’s OK. Then they’d still have their 4th round pick for next year and probably Pittsburgh’s too. Yeah they’re way better off.
Didn’t you hear the news? Caleb Williams is the next QB savior for the Bears so any problems along the OL have become irrelevant…lol.