5 underrated moves from the Vikings 2021 offseason
By Dean Jones
Signing defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson
Although Dalvin Tomlinson was one of the marquee arrivals to the Vikings in free agency, his potential impact cannot be understated. The defensive tackle could completely transform this particular positional group, and with Michael Pierce also returning from his 2020 opt-out, the sky is the limit.
A four-year starter with the New York Giants before arriving in Minnesota, Tomlinson has yet to miss an NFL game and is more than capable of causing havoc on the interior.
The Alabama product racked up seven sacks over his final two seasons at MetLife Stadium. His stout presence against the run is something else that should come in handy where the Vikings are concerned.
Nobody was more embarrassed about the team’s defensive frailties last season than head coach Mike Zimmer. He’s always prided himself on great defense and it was no surprise to see this unit become the primary focus once the free-agent frenzy began.
Tomlinson might be the best addition out of the bunch. His Pro Football Focus grade has never been below 75.0 since arriving in the NFL, and considering the abundance of talent around him in Minnesota, some career numbers might be in the offing if he performs as expected.
This is the sort of player Zimmer clearly loves. A space-eating interior monster that not only contributes individually but also makes others around him better.