When it comes to second chances, the Miami Dolphins are in a prime position to capitalize on one. The team has the unique opportunity to bring back a player they eyed last year but didn’t sign: Dalton Risner.

For several seasons, Miami has grappled with challenges on the offensive line. It’s a recurring theme—2022, 2023, and even 2024 saw the Dolphins struggling to shore up this crucial area.

Despite consistent needs, Chris Grier has often gambled on players with injury histories, hoping they’d stay healthy. That strategy didn’t quite pan out.

In 2024, the Dolphins considered Dalton Risner as a viable option to bolster their interior line. Reports from Barry Jackson suggest Miami showed interest but ultimately chose to stick with their existing personnel.

In hindsight, that decision might have been a misstep. The trio of Liam Eichenberg, Isaiah Wynn, and Robert Jones underperformed in different ways—Eichenberg was vulnerable, Wynn was frequently sidelined by injuries, and Jones’s performance was patchy at best.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Risner proved his worth. He played in 10 games, starting in 8, which followed an impressive run in 2023 where he started 11 of 15 games.

In the seasons before that, his availability and consistency were impressive, missing only a handful of starts in four years. Now as we look ahead, the Dolphins find themselves with another shot at Risner, who remains an unrestricted free agent.

Risner, while not the flashiest name on the market, certainly offers an upgrade over Miami’s current options like Eichenberg and Larry Borom. In his second stint with the Vikings, Risner’s contract was as affordable as it gets—just $1.2 million in base salary with a total cap hit of $2.4 million. It’s likely that a similar deal could be drawn up for 2025.

While Zach Scherff or Kevin Zeitler might be bigger names, Risner’s ability to play both guard positions offers versatility, especially since his primary posting has been at left guard. Consider James Daniels, who is expected to return to that spot albeit coming off an Achilles injury; Risner’s signing would bring not just depth but a reliable fall-back option, ensuring solidity whether as a starter or backup.

In essence, bringing Dalton Risner onto the Miami Dolphins would be more than just filling a gap—it’s a strategic move to correct a past oversight, offering high upside with minimal downside.