The 30 best NFL players set to become free agents in 2023
By Ryan Heckman
30 best NFL free agents in 2023: Dalvin Tomlinson, DL
Somehow, two years ago, the New York Giants allowed defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson to leave town. He signed a two-year, $21 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings and has quietly been one of the better guys in the league at his position over the past two or three years.
This year, he can somehow get overshadowed at times because the Vikings defense has been mostly porous as a unit. However, Tomlinson is one of the bright spots Minnesota’s defense can be proud of. In terms of a pass-rushing big man, Tomlinson is rivaled by few. He gets pressure on a regular basis and can do it from multiple spots up front if asked to.
Working mostly inside, Tomlinson has tallied double-digit quarterback pressures in four-straight seasons. At 28 years old, Tomlinson is in the thick of his prime and, because his sack numbers are down just a bit, teams may be able to get a slight discount.
But, if you ask an outlet like PFF, they’ll tell you he’s as valuable as interior linemen get. This season, he has a total of 23 pressures, 21 stops and a pass rush grade of 77.4 — which is very, very good for those unfamiliar.
Tomlinson should stay in Minnesota if the Vikings know what’s good for them, but they’ll have plenty of competition going after the stud lineman.