Bengals have begun working on making the easiest layup of their 2026 offseason, but the clock is ticking
Cincinnati has already begun talking with impending free agent Dalton Risner about a contract extension.
The Cincinnati Bengals impending free agent Dalton Risner wants to stay in Cincinnati, and the Bengals want the same.
Director of player personnel Duke Tobin confirmed there have been discussions with Risner about a contract extension before he hits free agency on Mar. 11.
“He came in late to the process, really fit in,” Tobin said of Risner Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I thought we ended up being a great fit for him in how we play, and he became a great fit for us, and came in and filled the need for us, did a nice job, fit in well. I’ve got a ton of respect for him, really enjoyed getting to know him. He’s really a fantastic person just to be around in the locker room on a day-to-day basis, and he’s a guy that we’ve talked to, and we’ll see if we can get something done.
“He’s got decisions to make, and we’ve got decisions to make, and he’s a guy that we like a lot.”
Risner could agree to terms with another club as early as Mar. 9, so Cincinnati now has under two weeks to get something done. It’s why talks with the 30-year old have already begun, and need to continue all the way up to the weekend before other clubs can officially get involved.
Bengals are on the path to bringing back Dalton Risner
Risner is the top priority among all of Cincinnati’s impending free agents to extend before contracts officially expire when the 2026 league year begins. The ship with Trey Hendrickson has all but sailed and that situation is its own beast, but Risner will be much more affordable, fills just as clear of a need at right guard, and again, wants to be here.
“I would personally like to not hit free agency,” Risner said on Jan. 5. “I’ve said that I don’t want to get to that mess of getting other teams involved. I’d love to just let it be a thing between me and the Bengals.”
Extending Risner is as much of a layup as the Bengals will find this year, and it makes all the sense in the world to prioritize talks with him during this time when you can’t legally talk to anyone else.
Dalton Risner 2025 Stats
- 11 starts
- 503 pass blocking snaps
- 17 pressures allowed
- 4 penalties
Risner is in a similar spot as tight end Mike Gesicki was last year. Gesicki found himself to be a perfect fit in Cincy’s offense and wanted to cash in during free agency. The Bengals negotiated an extension all the way up to the final weekend before the tampering window opened, and he agreed to a three-year deal.
It shouldn’t cost Tobin and Co. as much to get something done with Risner around the same time. Talks of doing so have already started, and a potential reunion should only be only a week or so away if it does end up happening.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals Free Agent Profile: Dalton Risner has what Cincinnati looks for in a quick business decision
Dalton Risner is one of the best free agents Cincinnati can re-sign.
