The Cincinnati Bengals have the opportunity to do something that would be highly beneficial going into the 2026 season. For an organization that values continuity, signing Dalton Risner to a contract extension would ensure all five starters on the offensive line this season would be back for next season.
Risner signed a one-year, $1,337,500 contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, including a $167,500 signing bonus, $167,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,337,500.
Needless to say, he’s earned a pay raise, but he still should be someone the Bengals can sign to a modest deal.
This should not start another saga of a contract negotiation between the Bengals and a player who outwardly expresses how much he wants to be here. Rather, this should be an easy decision.
“This is where I want to be,” Riser told reporters this week. “Unfortunately, I feel like there’s a business aspect to it, but at the end of the day, I love this coaching staff. My offensive line coach, Scott Peters, and Mike (Michael) McCarthy.
Risner also pointed to several of his fellow linemen whom he wishes to continue playing next to, while also giving a shoutout to embattled head coach Zac Taylor.
“I want to play next to Amarius Mims and Ted Karras, because who wouldn’t? I want to play for Zac Taylor. I want to play for Dan Pitcher. I want to play for this organization. I want to be a Cincinnati Bengal,” Risner stated.
Risner is literally laying this out for the Bengals. Again, they value continuity. But contract negotiations turned sagas in the past have given the impression that they are inconsistent with what they value. This is an opportunity to diminish those views of them.
It also helps that the Bengals have No. 9, and it’s no secret he’s someone fellow NFL players would love to be teammates with.
”I want to block for Joe Burrow,” Risner stated. “I want to block for Chase Brown. I want to block for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. I could go on and on and on with a list of guys in this locker room, of why I want to be here, the fit, how I play, how I think I can help this team win, the continuity that I had with this offensive line, and how we continue to build all year.
“Yeah, this is exactly where I want to be.”
Set the tone for the offseason by ensuring this offensive line will be intact going into 2026. After all the effort and money invested into fixing the offensive line, the Bengals finally have a solution. Take advantage of it.
While Risner certainly sounds like he loves the direction of the Bengals franchise, fans…are not quite so optimistic.
In this week’s Bengals Reacts survey, only 16% of voters said they’re confident in the direction of this team.
Can’t really blame them after the three-year stretch this team has had while also planning to make no real changes for next season.
This survey was brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook!