Dalton Risner
Cincinnati BengalsModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
Season Stats · 14 games
Draft & College
He went about where consensus had him.
Comps
STM Take
Four straight tier 7-8 seasons before the 2025 tier 6 (#44) jump with Cincinnati makes Risner a textbook journeyman guard whose ceiling has rarely climbed above the late-round-pick band. The Kansas State technical foundation plus seven years of NFL starter reps give him the experience profile to anchor a rebuilding interior. The 2026 question is whether Risner holds tier 6 or whether the rank drifts back toward the tier 7-8 career band.
Risner came out of Kansas State as the Denver Broncos' 2nd-round pick (41st overall) in 2019 and started four seasons in Denver at left guard before bouncing through Minnesota and now Cincinnati. His STTM career runs tier 7 (#53) in 2021, tier 8 (#89) in 2022, tier 8 (#97) in 2023, tier 8 (#68) in 2024, then tier 6 (#44) jump in 2025 with the Bengals.
Strengths
- Seven years of NFL starter reps at left guard across three systems gives him the veteran market value the Bengals captured.
- 53-spot year-over-year jump from tier 8 (#97) in 2023 to tier 6 (#44) in 2025 shows the change-of-scenery to Cincinnati produced a real bounce.
Concerns
- Four straight tier 7-8 STTM finishes (2021-2024) confirms the structural ceiling has rarely climbed above the late-round-pick career band.
- Bengals' broader offensive line investment pattern signals the front office may still draft an upgrade ahead of the next Risner contract window.
What to watch: Whether Risner holds tier 6 or better across the full 2026 Bengals season, or whether the rank drifts back toward the career tier 7-8 floor.