Dalton Wagner Bio
Dalton Wagner is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 318 pounds, he is one of the larger linemen on the Raiders roster and plays the tackle position that protects quarterbacks and clears running lanes. Wagner played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 2017 through 2022 before joining the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He has spent his entire professional career with the Las Vegas organization, moving between the active roster and the practice squad as he continues to develop at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Dalton Wagner was born on October 5, 1998, in Libertyville, Illinois, and grew up in nearby Spring Grove, a small community in the northern part of the state. He attended Richmond-Burton High School, where he played on the offensive line and stood out as one of the most promising young linemen in the area. By the time he finished his high school career, he was a consensus three-star recruit and had been ranked as the best player at his position in the state of Illinois by Scout.com, an early sign of the potential that would later take him to a major college program.
Wagner started for three seasons at Richmond-Burton, giving him significant varsity experience before he ever arrived on a college campus. That long run of starts helped him adjust to the speed and physicality of higher-level competition and prepared him for the next step in his football journey. After completing his high school career, he decided to take his talent south to the Southeastern Conference, committing to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Path to American Football
Wagner arrived at the University of Arkansas in 2017 and redshirted his first season, a common move for freshmen linemen who need time to add strength and learn a college playbook. The following year, in 2018, he appeared in 11 games and began to show coaches that he could be a long-term contributor on the offensive line. By 2019, Wagner had earned a full-time starting role and became a steady presence at tackle for the Razorbacks.
His development continued through the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, when he played eight games and committed only three penalties, a sign of his discipline and technique. In 2021, Wagner started 10 games, missed three due to injury, and helped Arkansas lead all Power Five teams in rushing yards per game, one of the strongest indicators of effective line play in college football. He also signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with WWE in December 2021, an early example of the new NIL opportunities available to college athletes. In 2022, Wagner returned to the Razorbacks using an extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic, was named a team captain, started all 12 games, and earned first-team All-SEC honors from Pro Football Focus. He was later invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and finished his college career with 40 games started.
Dalton Wagner Career
Early Career (2023)
Although some analysts projected Dalton Wagner as a possible late-round pick, he went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Shortly after the draft, the Las Vegas Raiders signed him as an undrafted free agent, offering a contract that included $225,000 in guarantees, the largest package among the team’s undrafted signees that year. The deal showed that the Raiders saw real potential in the big Arkansas tackle, even without the benefit of a draft selection.
Wagner’s first NFL season was cut short before it could really get going. On August 29, 2023, he was placed on injured reserve, forcing him to spend his rookie year working to recover rather than competing for a regular role on game days.
Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2023-Present)
Wagner returned to the Raiders in 2024 and was waived on August 27, 2024, as the team trimmed its roster down to the regular-season limit. He did not stay away from the organization for long, however, and was quickly re-signed to the practice squad the same week. That move kept him within the Raiders system, where he could continue to develop while waiting for another opportunity on the active roster.
On January 6, 2025, Wagner signed a reserve/future contract with Las Vegas, a deal that kept him in the organization for the next league year. The pattern repeated in 2025, when he was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and brought back to the practice squad the following day. He then signed another reserve/future contract on January 5, 2026, locking in his place with the team beyond that season.
Through these seasons, Wagner has appeared in at least one NFL game, according to league statistics tracked through 2025, a small but important milestone for a player who entered the league without a draft selection.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an offensive tackle, Dalton Wagner brings a rare combination of size, length, and movement skills that allow him to handle edge pass rushers and get to the second level in the run game. His college track record of starting 40 games, including time in a Power Five program that led the country in rushing, points to a player who is dependable, technically sound, and conditioned to play full games. Working with the Raiders coaching staff and competing in practice against professional defensive ends has helped him sharpen the finer points of pro-level play.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Wagner’s career came in 2022, when he was named first-team All-SEC by Pro Football Focus and earned Second-team All-SEC recognition, honors that put him among the best offensive linemen in the country’s deepest conference. He also became one of the early college athletes to sign a major NIL deal, partnering with WWE in December 2021. In the NFL, his largest guaranteed contract among Raiders undrafted free agents in 2023 stands as another milestone, showing the level of belief the team placed in him from day one.
Dalton Wagner Career Wins
Wagner’s professional resume is still in its early stages, and his win totals at the NFL level reflect the limited regular-season action he has had with the Las Vegas Raiders. His biggest individual victories so far are the personal ones: earning a roster spot as an undrafted free agent, surviving multiple rounds of cuts, and signing reserve/future contracts that kept his NFL dream alive.
Las Vegas Raiders Highlights
Since joining the Raiders in 2023, Dalton Wagner has suited up for the team in at least one regular-season game, and he has spent additional time on the practice squad as he has worked to grow into a full-time role. His current jersey number with Las Vegas is 78, and he remains listed as an active member of the organization.
Other Wins & Performances
Wagner’s most celebrated performances came during his time at Arkansas, where he started 40 games and was part of a 2021 offensive line that led all Power Five programs in rushing yards per game. He capped his college career with a Second-team All-SEC selection in 2022, a recognition reserved for the top linemen in one of college football’s toughest conferences.
Dalton Wagner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dalton Wagner’s immediate family is limited, and detailed details about his parents and siblings are not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Dalton Wagner grew up in Spring Grove, Illinois, and continues to have ties to the region where he was raised. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his career and daily life. Beyond his home state connections and his commitment to football, no additional public details about his personal relationships are widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Wagner’s 2025 storyline with the Las Vegas Raiders was defined by perseverance. He entered the year on a reserve/future contract signed in January 2025 and went through training camp fighting for a spot on the regular-season roster. On August 26, 2025, he was waived as part of the league’s final cutdown to 53 players, a tough moment that has become familiar for many young linemen trying to break through.
Wagner did not have to wait long for his next opportunity, re-signing with the Raiders’ practice squad the very next day and keeping his NFL career moving forward. He continued to develop on the practice squad throughout the season, working closely with the team’s offensive line coaches and competing against defensive linemen in practice each week. That work paid off when he signed another reserve/future contract on January 5, 2026, securing his place with Las Vegas for the next league year.
Looking ahead, Wagner remains an active part of the Raiders organization heading into the next NFL cycle, with a clear path to compete for a larger role on the offensive line. His combination of size, college starting experience, and familiarity with the Raiders system gives him a strong foundation to build on as he continues his professional career.