One of the main players of the Vikings is trying to get his teammate to come back while he is dealing with becoming a free agent

Minnesota Vikings guard Dalton Risner took his time last offseason to weigh his options before eventually signing with the team in September.

Now that he is a free agent again, there is some uncertainty about what will happen. He posted a strong message on social media. However, teammate and left tackle Christian Darrisaw hopes that Risner will continue to play beside him in 2024, just like he did this past season.

Darrisaw shared a photo of the two getting ready to play on his Instagram.

The Vikings signed Risner, 28, at a good price in free agency last season. They agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal. His contract was ranked 78th in total value. Denver Broncos to a one-year, $3 million contract.

His contract ranked 78th in total value, per Spotrac.

“Just In case anyone was wondering… I’ve started 73 games over 5 years in the league… missing only 4 games due to injury… earning the starting spot amongst 3 different coaching staffs… I’ve never asked for a bag, simply just a starting guard contract,” Risner posted on X, formerly Twitter, on March 12.

Dalton Risner Had Down Year for Vikings Ahead of Free Agency

GettyNick Mullens #12 of the Minnesota Vikings.

Risner is arguably coming off his worst season as a pro. He logged the lowest percentage of his team’s offensive snaps and the fewest number of starts in his career, per Pro Football Reference.

He finished the season with the lowest grade of his career (57.1), per Pro Football Focus, which also ranked him as the 71st guard in the NFL.

The Vikings finished third in pass blocking and 10th in run blocking, though.

The idea of continuity to build upon those rankings with a potentially revamped running game on the legs of Aaron Jones could also appeal to the Vikings. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s background suggests he would like to sling the ball in the passing game.

However, with Kirk Cousins off to the Atlanta Falcons and Sam Darnold replacing him, a shift in philosophy is in order, if only temporarily.

Even if the Vikings make a splash trade up in the draft for a quarterback, running the ball is wise.

Christian Darrisaw’s Contract Looms Large

GettyChristian Darrisaw #71 of the Minnesota Vikings.

Darrisaw’s contract is another aspect the Vikings have to consider, though free agency is still a ways off. The former No. 23 overall pick in 2021, Darrisaw appeared in a career-high 15 games last season. He came away with the second-highest grade of his career.

He is also heading into the final year of his four-year, $13.3 million contract.

The Vikings can still pick up his $16 million fifth-year option after next season. They can also apply the franchise tag up to three times before they have to make a long-term decision.

Relationships between players, their representation, and organizations have deteriorated over far less, though. The Vikings have already undergone a lot of changes. Cousins’ departure relates to Justin Jefferson’s future as he heads into the final year of his contract.

Bringing Risner back could be one of the cheaper paths to maintaining team chemistry.

PFF projects Risner to land a contract similar to New York Jets center Connor McGovern, who signed a contract worth $1.9 million for one year in 2023. It is not clear how willing Risner is to agree to that.