With Week 1 of the NFL season rapidly approaching, the Seattle Seahawks are looking to bolster their presumed biggest weakness: the offensive line. The team is meeting with free agent guard Dalton Risner, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Risner, 30, spent the last two seasons in Minnesota and played above average at his position, according to Pro Football Focus. He ranked No. 42 out of 136 guards in 2024, performing particularly well in the pass game. Risner’s pass blocking ranked No. 13 overall. Granted, his run blocking ranked below average, coming in at No. 96.
There are two other eye-catching stats from Risner’s 2024 season. He had zero penalties and was credited with zero sacks allowed in 537 snaps with the Vikings.
It’s perhaps no coincidence that the man Risner blocked for last season, Sam Darnold, is now under center for the Seahawks. Seattle could be looking to replicate the success Darnold enjoyed last season, when he passed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns on a 14-3 Vikings team.
“Free agent guard Dalton Risner, who worked out for the #Bengals today, will also visit the #Seahawks, per source. Visiting the #Steelers also a consideration. Wants to take multiple visits before making a decision,” Fowler tweeted.
How Risner Helps the Seahawks
Risner, a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019, would join a Seattle offensive line that’s ranked as one of the league’s worst units by many experts. And the skepticism is statistically fair.
The Seahawks allowed a league-worst 232 pressures and 165 hurries last season, according to PFF. They also surrendered 54 sacks, which ranked as third-worst in the league.
One of the two teams that allowed more sacks last season, the Cincinnati Bengals, met with Risner on Aug. 19. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported that Risner “had a strong meeting and workout” with the Bengals and “[the] two sides plan to stay in touch.”
However, Risner walked away without putting pen to paper, leaving the door open to sign with Seattle after their upcoming meeting. According to PFF, Risner projects to earn a one-year, $4.5 million deal.
The Seahawks could greatly benefit from Risner’s depth and experience. The team has the sixth-youngest roster in the league, with an average player age of 25.23 years old. Risner could also mentor fellow guard Grey Zabel, who was the Seahawks’ first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Where Risner Falls in the Depth Chart
If Risner signs with the Seahawks, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to step in as the team’s best guard right away. Zabel has played well in the preseason, but, like any rookie, he remains an unproven commodity and may need time to reach NFL speed.
The other notable guards on the roster are Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes. Both players are competing for the starting right guard spot, which is where Risner would presumably slot in.
The meeting between Risner and the Seahawks comes at an interesting time. Recent reports indicated that Bradford was a lock to win the starting right guard position. General manager John Schneider could simply be looking to add depth. After all, the team has $34.6 million in available cap space. However, Risner’s pedigree indicates that he’d land the starting job.
Even if Risner doesn’t sign with the Seahawks, the meeting could be a telling sign of how the front office feels about the offensive line. It’s not unusual for any team to talk with free agents this late in the preseason, but Seahawks fans will hope it’s for insurance instead of desperation.
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