Field Gulls
There’s a potentially interesting development in the Seattle Seahawks’ interior offensive line room.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that free agent guard Dalton Risner, who was last with the Minnesota Vikings, is scheduled to visit with the Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. The 30-year-old previously visited with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Risner spent the first four seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos, making 62 starts out of a possible 66 games. After recovering from an elbow injury, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings early in 2023 on a one-year deal, starting 11 games and playing in 15. Risner re-upped for a year but started the season on injured reserve and only started eight games (all at right guard, having spent his whole career up to that point on the left side). He’s known for being a much better pass blocker than run blocker, at least based on his PFF grades.
It should be noted that Risner has history with the Seahawks offensive coaching staff; offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and run game specialist Justin Outten were with the Broncos when Risner played for Denver. Risner, of course, also blocked for Sam Darnold last season.
A visit doesn’t mean a signing, but if we were to speculate on why the Seahawks would be interested in Risner when it looks for all the world that Anthony Bradford and Grey Zabel will be the starting guards, it may not speak well to the roster security for any of Christian Haynes (which Ted Zahn discussed early Tuesday morning on Field Gulls), Sataoa Laumea, Bryce Cabeldue, and Mason Richman.
We’ll keep tabs on this to see if the Seahawks’ Week 1 roster includes a veteran guard (Risner or someone else) over some of the young players currently battling to remain on the team.
