Inside The Vikings

Vikings' Dalton Risner Signing Likely Pushes Blake Brandel Back to Bench

Risner returns on a one-year deal and should be expected to start at left guard.
Will Ragatz|
Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) celebrates after a touchdown with guard Dalton Risner (66) against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) celebrates after a touchdown with guard Dalton Risner (66) against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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Minnesota Vikings

Last week, Vikings offensive coordinator heaped praise on fifth-year lineman Blake Brandel, saying he had earned the opportunity to start at left guard for Minnesota. That's a good example of why NFL team's actions are always more interesting than their words. On Wednesday, the Vikings agreed to a deal to bring back sixth-year veteran Dalton Risner, who was their starting LG for the final 11 games of last season. It's a one-year deal for Risner, who will presumably step back into the starting lineup and push Brandel back to a valuable utility backup role.

Risner, who turns 29 this summer, was drafted in the second round out of Kansas State by the Broncos in 2019. He started 62 games at left guard during his four years in Denver. Last year, his free agency surprisingly lasted into September, when the Vikings gave him a one-year, $4 million deal. Not long after, he had supplanted Ezra Cleveland as Minnesota's starter at LG, allowing the Vikings to trade Cleveland before the deadline. Now Risner is back for a second season in purple.

More than anything, Risner is an experienced player who provides a high floor of pass protection ability at the left guard position. He isn't an elite run blocker, but he's very solid when it comes to anchoring against powerful defensive tackles. Risner also became a fan favorite in Minnesota last season for his entertaining personality both on and off the field.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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