Ex-2nd-Round Pick Teases Vikings Contract Talks in Free Agency

he Minnesota Vikings might not be done adding to their trenches despite addressing both sides of the ball in free agency, and they might not stick to the 2025 draft either. Former Vikings guard Dalton Risner said the team has recently shown an interest in him.

Risner, 29, was a second-round pick (No. 41 overall) by the Denver Broncos in 2019. He appeared in 10 games in 2024, starting eight after taking over at right guard for Ed Ingram.

Risner started 11 of 15 games at left guard for the Vikings in 2023 and could return for 2025.

“Minnesota has shown interest in bringing me back, but only to an extent.  They went out and signed a guard for a lot of money. So it’d have to be the other side of the ball, and Blake Brandel’s a heck of a football player, so. I don’t know what their plan would be with me,” Risner told a fan during a live TikTok stream on April 16.

“If they’re willing to work with me, I’m willing to work with them, because I love Minnesota so much. And that’s saying something. I would not say that for every team.”

Risner was clear that he was still a free agent, but he expects to find a new home.

“I’m not on a team right now,” Risner told another fan. “But I will be on a team soon. I could imagine. What do you guys think? Do you guys think it’s the Minnesota Vikings? Do you guys think it’s back to Denver? Do you guys think it’s the Cincinnati Bengals? I don’t know.

“Maybe I am signing with the Vikings, maybe I’m not. I’m in talks with multiple teams, so we’ll see what happens. We’ll see where this journey leads us.”