Vikings don't need Dalton Risner, they have him at home

After their team suffered a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their 2023 regular-season opener on Sunday, some Minnesota Vikings fans have begun to call on the team to consider signing free-agent offensive guard Dalton Risner.

Vikings right guard Ed Ingram picked up where he left off in 2022 and he made a number of mistakes on Sunday that caused everyone to wonder why the team still kept him as a starter this season.

While part of the solution for Minnesota might be to replace Ingram in the starting lineup, Risner might not be the best choice to select as his replacement. Instead, the Vikings would be better off giving Blake Brandel a shot at Ingram's job if they decide to make a change this season.

Brandel converted from tackle to guard this offseason, and it seemed to turn out well for him during the preseason. During 56 pass-blocking snaps in his two preseason appearances this summer, Brandel gave up a grand total of just one quarterback pressure, according to PFF.

His best performance came during Minnesota's second preseason matchup against the Tennessee Titans when he spent all of his time lined up as a right guard (Ingram's spot). Brandel didn't give up any pressures in this contest, and he finished with an 87.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF.

Brandel can run block just as well as Ingram, but Brandel displayed this preseason that he could be a much better pass-blocker than Ingram, who allowed four pressures on Sunday against the Bucs.

What is this infatuation with Risner even about? The guy still hasn't signed with a team yet this year, and he has never been voted to a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team in any of his four NFL seasons. Some have been acting like Risner is basically just the second coming of Steve Hutchinson sitting out on the street waiting for someone to sign him. Breaking news, he's not.

So, instead of overpaying for someone who will have to come in and take some time to learn the offense like Risner, the Vikings should save their money and see what they have in Brandel first if they're looking to send Ingram to the bench.