Vikings add two offensive linemen not named Dalton Risner

To help improve their depth, the Minnesota Vikings signed offensive linemen Christian DiLauro and Jarrid Williams on Thursday, in addition to releasing guard Bobby Evans.

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings hosted free-agent offensive lineman Dalton Risner for a visit. Risner and the Vikings didn't end up agreeing to a contract before he returned home, and based on some roster moves the team made on Thursday, the chances of him signing with the purple and gold don't seem very high.

In an effort to improve their current offensive line depth, Minnesota revealed on Thursday that they have signed offensive tackles Christian DiLauro and Jarrid Williams. To create room on their roster, the Vikings also released guard Bobby Evans.

Could Dalton Risner still sign with the Minnesota Vikings?

Technically, anything is possible (just ask Kevin Garnett), but the signings Minnesota made on Thursday probably mean that Risner isn't going to end up with the team this year.

Considering he's started in all 62 of his appearances since entering the NFL in 2019 as a member of the Denver Broncos, Risner is likely looking to join a team where he can start immediately. That doesn't seem to be something that the Vikings were willing to offer, and at best, they probably told him he could come in and compete for one of the team's two starting guard jobs.

So instead, Minnesota has decided to see if DiLauro or Williams can help improve their offensive line heading into the 2023 season.

DiLauro was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and since then, he's appeared in a grand total of five NFL games in stints with the Browns, Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders.

Williams has been in the league since the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to their practice squad during the early part of the 2022 season. He has also had short stints with the Steelers and Detroit Lions.