Broncos Film Room: What Denver is getting in Dalton Risner

With their second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Dalton Risner, the local product from Wiggins, Colorado.

The underrecruited Risner has turned himself into one of the best leaders in college football and an All-American caliber player, even receiving the award for 2018 Big-12 offensive lineman of the year.

Here’s what he brings to the Broncos offense after transforming himself from an unknown to a legitimate NFL talent.

Strengths

• Risner has a strong, wide base and doesn’t overextend. Consistently staying balanced and keeping everything in front of him.
• He is a very efficient pass protector who can eliminate outside rushes or even faster defenders coming on blitzes, too.

• His awareness stands out as he’ll pick up extra rushers and has a high IQ.
• Possesses strong hands and can rock defenders off their spots as a run blocker.
• Plays with sound leverage in the run game and creates easy push on a consistent basis.

• Risner is a great leader and a tenacious player who plays with a nasty edge. Was dominant in stretches and won’t play down to his level of competition.

• He’s a versatile blocker who played right tackle and center over his career.
• Has plenty of length to play tackle and profiles to be a high-end guard or center who can be a bull in tight quarters. 
• Is athletic enough to block on the move and punish opponents at the second level, though he could improve in that area.

• Is a tone-setting run blocker with a brawlers mentality. Ultra competitive and will battle his rear end off every chance he gets.

• Is a refined technician who uses his hands well and is able to make up for a lack of great natural gifts by being sound and consistent at all times. 
• He has a strong anchor against bull rushes, which he’s shown against some of the best players he’s faced throughout his career.
• As Kansas State’s starting center his freshman year, he was able to get to the second level regularly and do damage. 
• Flies off the snap and can do damage on pulls or on the move thanks to his initial jolt off the line. Is a bulldozer if everything is clean. 

Weaknesses

• Lacks a bit of knee bend and needs to be more physical eliminating inside rushers who attack his inside shoulder.
• Needs to become more consistently dominant getting to the second level and burying smaller defenders in space.
• Isn’t the smoothest in dropping back in pass sets and will need to fine-tune his footwork.
• Just an average NFL athlete at tackle, though he is a much better athlete when profiled inside.
• Great athletes with NFL-caliber traits will beat him off the edge from time to time.
• His effort is always off the charts and can hurt him sometimes, as he’s guilty of being too aggressive at times, not trusting his technique and getting out of position. Was still amazingly clean and consistent for most of his career.
• Struggles at times when put on the move on pull blocks, as his lateral mobility isn’t great. There are questions regarding his ability to reach-block in a zone scheme as well.

In conclusion

Projected by most to go at the end of round one, the Broncos got a steal with this selection, as Risner can immediately upgrade the offensive line at either center or guard and could be a future right tackle, too.

With his previous experience at center and his nasty streak playing in tight spaces, he has some significant upside as an interior offensive lineman. His versatility is another huge selling point as he could start on four of the five spots on the line.

His lack of elite athleticism makes him a bit of a tougher projection in the Broncos zone-blocking scheme, though he fits what offensive line coach Mike Munchak has looked for in the past out of his offensive lineman; with an ideal power base and all the intangibles one could ask for.

If coached up, Risner is a high-floor prospect with a high ceiling if converted inside.

A three-year captain, the leadership he brings to the table is also key here, as the Broncos might’ve found a new captain on offense to pair with Phillip Lindsay, two local kids who’ve grown up idolizing this franchise and can be trusted to do what’s best for the team.

Our 33rd ranked prospect overall and sixth best offensive lineman in the entire class, Risner was a steal at this juncture of the draft, plugging a huge hole on the offensive line regardless of where he is slotted.