Bengals Tuesday Trenches: Dalton Risner and the NFL Combine

The Cincinnati Bengals started the week with a bang.

One thing that felt like an absolute MUST was re-signing Dalton Risner, and they got it done. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million on Monday. Now he doesn’t have to worry about finding a new job, and the Bengals don’t have to worry about right guard.

Win-win.

It’s clear Risner wanted to be here, too, which is always nice to see. Despite having an elite quarterback and a recent Super Bowl appearance, some fans still struggle with the idea that free agents might actually want to come to Cincinnati. Anyone who lived through the pre- and early-Marvin days remembers when Cincinnati was a free agent desert.

Now? Not so much.

With Risner in the fold, the offensive line appears set. Hopefully, they can build on what they did for Joe Burrow in 2025.

I’d still like to see the Bengals keep Joseph Ossai in stripes before he hits the open market. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that they won’t be tagging Trey Hendrickson, which likely means he’s as good as gone. Bringing Ossai back would at least prevent them from relying solely on Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart, and an incoming rookie.

Beyond that? Maybe Cam Sample and Tycen Anderson?

CTB — if they believe they can right that ship — could be inexpensive. And if the Bengals can extend DJ Turner and/or Dax Hill, while adding a key free agent or two, they could head into the draft with very few glaring NEEDS.

If is the keyword.

Free agency opens next Wednesday. The only way the Bengals rebuild the shell of a defense that’s kept them out of the playoffs the past two years is to spend — and spend big. This class may not be tailor-made for their needs, but there are absolutely ways to fill holes or add meaningful depth if they’re willing to open the checkbook.

Who would you like to see them go all out for, if anyone?

Did you watch the NFL Combine?

I didn’t. I followed along online and checked updates after a handful of notifications, but I can’t bring myself to watch it anymore. I’ve been to the Combine multiple times. In my opinion, it was much cooler in the early 2010s.

15 years ago, only a handful of players had podiums to shield themselves from the media. Everyone else sat at cafeteria tables with a simple nameplate, and you could just pull up a chair and talk.

I sat down with Giovani Bernard and Travis Kelce, neither of whom was drawing much attention as I walked by. I caught Kelce mostly because I was finishing my journalism degree at UC at the time, and he was a Bearcat. Nice guy.

Now? It’s all podiums, strict schedules, and players ushered in and out on a timer. If two guys you want to talk to are scheduled at the same time, you’d better be able to clone yourself or start running.

And when they’re not answering questions behind a podium, they’re waiting to test on the field, which I never had access to anyway.

What I learned from my Combine experiences is this: it’s not a great setting to truly get to know these players. It’s a job interview. Answers are polished. Everything is “yes sir” and “no ma’am.” They’re not like that in real life. They won’t be like that in the locker room.

Some of the nicest guys at the Combine turn into locker room headaches in the NFL. The Combine probably isn’t where that gets discovered.

Although watching them squirm over a weird, non-football question was always entertaining. “Would you rather fight one horse-sized goose or ten goose-sized horses?” (The correct answer is ten goose-sized horses).

At this point, I don’t feel the need to give the Combine much of my attention — at least not in person or glued to the TV. I’m good with highlights and updates on social media.

What about you? Did you watch? Who caught your eye?

As Aragorn asked the King of the Dead:

“WHAT SAY YOU?!?”

Relevant Song Lyrics:

Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go
I wanna be sedated
Nothin’ to do, nowhere to go-ho
I wanna be sedated.