The Bengals got a great deal with Dalton Risner contract

Oct 12, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Cincinnati Bengals guard Dalton Risner (66) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals' signing of Dalton Risner to a one-year deal was the first domino of the offseason to fall. It's a great move by the Bengals, and a move that needed to happen.

Further details of the contract show that the Bengals not only got their starting right guard back, but they also didn't overpay and still have plenty of money to fix the defense.

According to Over The Cap, Risner is guaranteed $3.25 million this coming season with incentives up to $5 million. That base cash amount ranks 21st among 81 left guards.

Over The Cap had Risner's 2025 valuation at $7,764,000, so the Bengals clearly got a good deal last year at $1.3 million and do so again this year.

You could tell by listening to Risner speak on Monday how thankful he is to be here and be on the Bengals for the 2026 season. And the Bengals will absolutely be better off because of it. His 98.0% pass block efficiency was a career high and ranked eighth-best in the league among starting guards last season.

The Bengals are finally a mainstay home for Risner and his wife, Whitney. Duke Tobin, Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn, and the Bengals front office listened to Risner say how much he wanted to be here and got the deal done.

Now, it's time to make bigger moves.