Ravens must sign this veteran guard if they don't pick OL in 2024 NFL Draft
By Mike Luciano
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the teams widely expected to use one of their top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on an offensive lineman after an offseason in which three 2023 starters have since departed. The Ravens need to find an upgrade over their internal options.
Baltimore is currently slated to make Andrew Vorhees, who has zero NFL snaps and a serious injury under his belt, and Ben Cleveland, who hasn't earned a starting role in the past three seasons, the two starters at left and right guard, respectively.
If the Ravens want to look for a veteran option, the best name on the market could be former Minnesota Vikings guard Dalton Risner. He has been very vocal about his frustrations with an inability to get a starting guard contract, and the Ravens might need to quench his desires relatively soon if they want to add an impactful player.
Bleacher Report joined in the chorus of voices suggesting the Ravens take a look at Risner if they are unable to land a playmaker inside. Risner has been a reliable starter for years with both the Vikings and Denver Broncos, and the Ravens could be the next stamp in his passport.
Should the #Vikings bring back LG Dalton Risner? 🤔
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) April 19, 2024
Currently a FA, Risner recently expressed frustration that no teams have called him via @wibw.
"And I’m still just undervalued. I mean, last year, I didn’t get a job until September. And the team that gave me a shot, I showed… pic.twitter.com/N0fcurgH4b
Could Baltimore Ravens sign Dalton Risner after NFL Draft?
Risner didn't sign with the Vikings until September, but he beat out incumbants to become a starter. While a questionable run blocker, Risner again proved to be one of the better pass-blocking guards in the NFC. With durability in his back pocket, Risner is a valuable player.
The Ravens may not have a ton of cap space, but they will likely need to restructure some deals and move money around to sign their draft class and build up a deep roster come training camp. Risner is worth a spot, as he has more experience than two complete wild cards in Cleveland and Vorhees.
The Ravens could eschew Risner if they use one of their top draft picks on an interior lineman. Duke's Graham Barton, Arizona's Jordan Morgan, and Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson (the latter two of whom were mentioned by name as possible targets by Albert Breer) are all in play at No. 30 overall.
Without one of those names delivered promptly to Baltimore, the Ravens need to get on the phone with Risner. Unless Vorhees suddenly turns in Randall McDaniel as a pass-blocker, the Ravens will need to be on the lookout for veteran competition.
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