NFL Free Agency Primer: Dalvin Tomlinson

The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.

The Player: Dalvin Tomlinson

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson has been clogging lanes in the NFL ever since coming into the league as the 55th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. As durable as he is consistent, he has started 93 of a possible 97 games and earned Pro Football Focus overall grades between 74.9 and 81.0 in his six seasons.

The Fit:

Tomlinson is a classic run-stuffer and belongs on a hard-nosed, defensive-minded team that doesn't expect to find itself in many shootouts. He would make sense next to an elite pass-rushing interior defensive lineman that wants to be freed up from double teams. 

The Cost:

As rock solid as he's been, Tomlinson's skillset is no longer in vogue in the NFL. He's wrapping up a two-year, $21 million deal with the Vikings, and he shouldn't expect a major pay bump. D.J. Reader's four-year, $53 million deal inked with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 is likely the best he can hope for.

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