Eagles NFL draft options at 25: Dalton Risner

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Dalton Risner is a polished and versatile pass blocker who played both center and right tackle during his years at Kansas State. Because he’s “only” 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, he could swing inside to guard, since he would be a little undersized at right tackle. 

The only thing that could keep Risner out of the first round is his run blocking — which is considered suspect — although the way the league is trending, it’s not as significant an issue as it once was. Risner is athletically limited, although in college he was able to overcome his limitations with tremendous work ethic, a non-stop motor and a mean streak that might remind Eagles fans of Jon Runyan.

Risner is a character guy who was a team captain for three years and has his own RiseUp charity foundation to promote literacy among kids in his native Colorado and is also involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Special Olympics.

Current roster at OT: Jason Peters and Lane Johnson are back for what projects to be their seventh year together, but the 37-year-old Peters is nearing the end, and Jordan Mailata, while an intriguing prospect, remains untested and an unknown quantity. Halapoulivaati Vaitai has been a Super Bowl starter but has been very inconsistent as he moves into his fourth season. The only lock here is Johnson, who has made the Pro Bowl the last two years, is signed for three more years and is only 28.

How he would fit: Risner doesn’t have the footwork necessary to play left tackle, so he would either play guard here, where the Eagles definitely have a need, or right tackle with Johnson moving across to the left side. 

Eagles history at OT in draft: After missing badly on a series of first-round tackles, the Eagles nailed studs in Tra Thomas with the 11th pick in 1998 and Johnson with the 4th pick in 2013. They are the first tackles the Eagles have drafted who made a Pro Bowl since Jerry Sisemore in 1973.

Other options at 25 

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