Landing spots for the top 5 remaining NFL free agents in 2023
3. Dalton Risner, OG
Of all the free agents still available, I think Dalton Risner is arguably the most shocking of them all. Risner was projected to receive a contract worth around $9-11 million annually after leaving the Denver Broncos, and I think it’s safe to say at this point that those estimates were way over the top.
Risner was not always the best starting left guard for the Denver Broncos, but he was a steady presence in the lineup who was mostly a model of durability. You can’t help but wonder how much of Risner going at backup QB Brett Rypien on the sideline during the Broncos’ Christmas Day debacle in Los Angeles is playing into this.
Perhaps teams are wondering — what happens if he gets fired up and goes after QB1?
When you’re talking about a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, that kind of conversation is both weird and simultaneously justified.
Risner played in a variety of offensive schemes. He was coached by Mike Munchak for the first few years of his career and then last year by Butch Barry, who is now with the Miami Dolphins. That connection could come into play as this process drags along.
The Jaguars are another team that could use more depth on the interior offensive line, as could the Indianapolis Colts.
Do the Houston Texans need Dalton Risner? I’m not sure about that, but if you look at Nick Caserio’s track record, he has acquired an obscene amount of former Broncos in recent years.
What about a reunion with the Broncos themselves? That might not be out of the question for Risner, a Colorado native.
Landing Spots:
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Indianapolis Colts
- Houston Texans
- Denver Broncos
- Miami Dolphins