Cincinnati Bengals re-sign Dalton Risner to 1-year deal; key offensive lineman to stay for 2026 season
Dalton Risner, who will turn 31 soon, joined the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in late August 2025 and quickly became a key part of the offensive line.
The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off their offseason moves on a strong note on Monday (March 2) by re-signing right guard Dalton Risner to a one-year contract. This retention secures a reliable protector for quarterback Joe Burrow just ahead of the NFL free agency period.
Dalton Risner, who will turn 31 soon, joined the Bengals as a free agent in late August 2025 and quickly became a key part of the offensive line. He appeared in 14 games last season, earning 11 starts at right guard. His performance stood out, particularly in pass protection, where he delivered solid results that helped stabilize the unit.
Dalton Risner's strong performance in 2025
Dalton Risner's impact was clear in key metrics. He ranked 36th among guards in pass block win rate at 92.6%, marking the best figure for any Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman since head coach Zac Taylor took over in 2019. In the Bengals' final seven games of the season, when Risner started all of them, the team's overall pass block win rate climbed to 23rd in the league, up from 29th through the first 11 weeks. These numbers highlight how Risner provided much-needed consistency after signing late in the preseason.
Coach Zac Taylor's praise and team stability
Zac Taylor spoke positively about Risner at the NFL Combine last week. "I like Dalton a lot," Taylor said. "We are in the business side of it right now. We continue to work through it. He did a great job for us last year, and I liked being around him."
The re-signing ensures continuity along the Bengals' offensive front. With left tackle Orlando Brown Jr, left guard Dylan Fairchild, center Ted Karras, and right tackle Amarius Mims already set to return, the line looks poised for stability heading into 2026. This group gives Burrow better protection as the team aims to build on recent seasons.
Dalton Risner's excitement
Dalton Risner expressed his happiness about staying. "It's such a relief," he said upon returning to Paycor Stadium. “And it's a relief because I'm coming back to somewhere I love. With coaches and players that I love and respect, a staff that I respect, the team I want to play for, a team that respects me and values me and believes in me, and that's all you can ask for.”
The deal prevents Risner from testing the open market. It marks a smart, low-risk move for Cincinnati as they prioritize protecting their franchise quarterback. With free agency approaching, this early agreement sets a positive tone for the Bengals' offseason plans.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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