Vikings signing Dalvin Tomlinson is a huge loss for the Packers
The Minnesota Vikings helped themselves by signing Dalvin Tomlinson, but they also gave the rival Packers a pretty big ‘L.’
The Minnesota Vikings joined the free agency party late Monday night, agreeing to a reported two-year, $22 million deal with defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. He’ll now join Michael Pierce, a free agent signing last year who opted out of the 2020 season, to help a Minnesota run defense that was 27th in the league last year (134.4 yards per game).
One of the day's best numbers: 658, the combined weight of the #Vikings' starting defensive tackles as Dalvin Tomlinson (318 pounds) joins Michael Pierce (340), who's back from his opt-out. Two massive humans to eat up blocks and let Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks run free.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2021
The Green Bay Packers finished 13th in the league against the run last year, but they also allowed 4.5 yards per carry. So they naturally made an effort to fortify their run defense at the trade deadline. Tomlinson, then with the New York Giants of course, was a trade target.
The #Packers tried to trade for Dalvin Tomlinson during the season. Now, they’ll see him twice a year ☹️ https://t.co/7nZe0rtEC7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021
The Vikings signing Dalvin Tomlinson gave the Packers a big ‘L’
Tomlinson has been graded by Pro Football Focus as a top 25 defensive tackle in each of the last four years, with a peak of 10th in 2018 and a ranking of 20th last year. As shown by NextGen Stats, his strength fits the Vikings’ biggest weakness against the run. He’s also not strictly a nose tackle, having played a lot of 3-technique with the Giants.
Dalvin Tomlinson has the 2nd-highest run stuff rate (5.1%) among interior DL since entering the league in 2017 (min. 800 run snaps).
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 16, 2021
The Vikings address one of their biggest weaknesses, as they had the lowest stuff rate vs inside runs in the NFL last season (8.3%). https://t.co/ouhOd1fzwk pic.twitter.com/OUUK6u7yk0
As long as defensive end Danielle Hunter is back healthy and performing as he can in 2021, which
is a growing question as he may be ready to demand a trade
, the Vikings’ don’t necessarily need a dynamic pass rusher on the interior. Tomlinson has just eight career sacks, but he does have
over the last two seasons. So to call him strictly a run stuffer feels short-sighted.
With holes to fill along the offensive line, including one they created at left tackle by cutting Riley Reiff, the wisdom of devoting more resources to the defensive tackle position can be questioned. But the Vikings also gave their chief divisional rival a pretty big ‘L’ by signing Tomlinson, which counts for something.
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