Dalton Risner made comments about the Cincinnati Bengals’ blockbuster trade and what it means for the franchise moving forward.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ aggressive offseason approach has drawn strong reactions inside the locker room, particularly following the franchise-altering decision to trade for Dexter Lawrence. The move, which cost Cincinnati the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been generally received as the front office’s intention to win now and maximize their championship window.
Veteran guard Dalton Risner, who re-signed with the Bengals and is set for his second stint with the team, did not hold back when assessing the impact of the deal (via Fox19’s Joe Danneman).
“My reaction was just how much better of a football team we are because of him,” Risner said. “I mean, the guy’s a dawg. I’ve had the privilege of playing him a couple of times in the NFL… As soon as he got picked up, I started thinking about training camp, OTAs and having to deal with that big guy. But come September and throughout the season, I think this is gonna pay huge dividends for us.”
Risner also alluded to the direction set by the front office and coaching staff led by Zac Taylor.
“The upstairs staff and ownership group of the Cincinnati Bengals have built such a great team for this next season,” Risner said. “Zac Taylor, the coaching staff, everybody has. Now, it’s our job to go out there and put the work in and get ready to go execute them.”
The message behind the Lawrence trade, according to Risner, is unmistakable.
“I think it sends a message that we’re ready to win now… Let’s win right now… It’s our job to put the work in and be ready to go.”
Bengals’ offseason moves signals urgency to compete now
Lawrence’s arrival headlines other major moves the Bengals have made on defense. Cincinnati also signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Boye Mafe to reinforce the front. The Bengals also added secondary help in safety Bryan Cook, cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor and safety Kyle Dugger to improve a unit that ranked 30th in total defense last season.
On the offensive side, retaining Risner was viewed as a priority. His familiarity with the system and ability to play multiple interior positions provided continuity in front of quarterback Joe Burrow, who has dealt with repeated injury disruptions in recent seasons. Cincinnati also brought back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on a one-year deal to assume a backup role behind Burrow.
Risner, who started 14 games for Cincinnati last season, allowed just three sacks and committed five penalties while helping stabilize an offensive line that dealt with injuries and inconsistency. He now rejoins an organization that is desperate to return to contention in 2026 after missing the playoffs for three straight seasons.
According to him, the expectation is clear inside the building: the window is open, and the time to capitalize is now.