Arizona Cardinals: Five players to target at No. 33 overall
By Avery Duncan
Dalton Risner – OL, Kansas State
After bringing in starters J.R. Sweezy and Marcus Gilbert and adding depth with Max Garcia in free agency, the Arizona Cardinals line is improved. But, there still needs to be a lot of work done across the board and depth is still a significant concern. This is where Kansas State’s Dalton Risner comes into play.
I classified Risner as an offensive lineman because, well, his position is still up in the air, but that’s not a bad thing. In four seasons at Kansas State Risner played both right tackle and center at a high-level and showed the skill to play both guard positions. That versatility would be essential for the Cardinals offensive line that doesn’t possess many sure things.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 312-pounds, Risner has the size to handle NFL defenders, but his length (34-inch arms) may mean a full-time move to the inside. NFL Media’s Lance Zuerlin compares him favorably to the Bears’ Pro-Bowl center Cody Whitehair saying the following;
"Risner is the same player on every snap with core strength, body control, and strong hands, allowing him to succeed on a relatively consistent basis. His position flexibility (started at right tackle and center) and play traits mirror those of former KSU standout Cody Whitehair."
Risner isn’t an athletic prospect, which may contribute to his second round grade. But, he’s proved to be a sound pass protector and mauler in the run game. Per Pro Football Focus, Risner allowed just one sack in 1,397 pass snaps, and he also had a run-block success rate of 93.7%, which puts him 12th amongst offensive tackles in the 2019 class.