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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor now has three QBs to work with after Joe Burrow’s injury.
The Cincinnati Bengals have resigned offensive lineman Dalton Risner to a one-year deal. According to ESPN, the deal is worth up to $5 million.
“Risner started nine of his 14 appearances at right guard last season, including the final seven games of the season. He ranked 36th in pass block win rate as a guard at 92.6%, which is the highest mark of any Bengals player since Zac Taylor became head coach before the 2019 season.” Ben Baby wrote in the ESPN article.
It’s no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to protect Joe Burrow over the years. With the resigning of Risner, this could be a trend in the right direction.
Zac Taylor Fond of Dalton Risner
Risner signed the contract on Monday morning. At the NFL Combine, Zac Taylor expressed his thoughts on Dalton Risner.
“I like Dalton a lot,” Taylor is quoted as saying in the ESPN article. “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.”
“When Risner started the final seven games of the season, Cincinnati ranked 23rd in overall pass block win rate, an improvement from 29th in the first 11 weeks of the season.” Baby wrote.
While the Cincinnati Bengals defense has struggled, it’s safe to say that the Bengals’ offense has done their job. The Cincinnati Bengals ranked 6th in passing offense in 2025. They averaged 235.6 passing yards per game. The Bengals were without their star quarterback Joe Burrow for the majority of the season which makes these statistics even more impressive.
“Bringing Risner back for another year is huge. It gives Burrow some stability along the offensive line and keeps a fan favorite in Cincinnati on a very reasonable deal.” Matt Sullivan wrote in a Yahoo Sports article.
Risner Wanted to Be Back in Cincinnati
Dalton Risner said in January he wanted to be in Cincy, and his wishes came to pass.
“This is where I want to be,” Risner said in January. “My offensive line coach, Scott Peters, and Mike McCarthy. 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 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.”
The Cincinnati Bengals accomplishing this move before free agency is a huge milestone before the start of free agency. Fellow offensive lineman Amarius Mims praised Risner and expressed how he wanted him back with Cincy.
“I feel like he’s one of the best right guards in the NFL,” Mims said in a Sports Illustrated article. “It’s a no-brainer to bring him back. He’s helped our offense so much. I feel like overall he’s been one of our best O-linemen on the team, 100%. I feel like he’s been the best.”
DeonTay Smith is a journalist who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with a focus on the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. A graduate from Methodist University, Smith also covers local news for the Panama City News Herald and hosts his own YouTube podcast. More about DeonTay Smith
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