Three days into free agency, the interior of the Arizona Cardinals' defensive line was set to be a significant hole entering draft season. On Wednesday night, they finally addressed the position, signing former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
Tomlinson was widely seen as the best defensive tackle remaining on the market.
The deal, which his agency announced on social media, is worth $29 million over two years with $16 million guaranteed. Tomlinson became available earlier in the day after the Browns designated him as a post-June 1 cut to save $6.4 million in cap space. The 31-year old previously signed a four-year, $57 million deal in 2023.
Before Wednesday night's addition, the Cardinals' most accomplished defensive tackles were Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones -- a pair of 2024 free agent signings who missed nearly the entire season through injury. Both players have been below-average producers throughout their careers and struggled in their brief time on the field last fall.
Tomlinson, by contrast, has long been a productive force in the middle of the defensive line. His Pro Football Focus grades have dipped in recent years but he has still recorded three sacks in each of the past two seasons. His last year with fewer than 2.5 sacks was with the Giants in 2018. Last year, he also managed six tackles for loss, his most since 2020.
Where Tomlinson really stood out a year ago was his ability to generate pressure. He did so at an 11.4% clip, per PFF. The Cardinals top three snap leaders on the defensive line -- L.J. Collier, Dante Stills, Roy Lopez -- had a combined pressure rate of 7.8%. Tomlinson's presence should enable the Cardinals' pass rush to create more pressure from the interior, opening opportunities for edge rushers like Josh Sweat, their marquee signing of free agency.
Tomlinson's production profile also compares favorably to the top defensive linemen already signed in free agency. Javon Kinlaw, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Commanders, had a 7.5% pressure rate last year. Jonathan Allen (three years, $51 million with the Vikings) had a 10.4% pressure rate.
Even Milton Williams -- widely seen as the best defensive player in this free agent class, and paid accordingly -- was only slightly more productive, with a 12.9% pressure rate.
Tomlinson, unlike Williams, has displayed an ability to play a healthy snap share. This past year, he played 56.3% of defensive snaps for the Browns. That number has been over 50% in seven of his eight seasons. If he replicates that usage on the Cardinals, he will likely be their most-used defensive tackle.
Against the run, meanwhile, Tomlinson has been seen as an above average presence throughout his career. Per PFF, he recorded 17 stops this season -- tackles that constitute a failure for the offense.
Early in his career, Tomlinson often operated as a space-eating nose tackle in the middle of the New York Giants' defense. He still occasionally played that role with the Browns but the majority of his work came at 3-technique, which is where the Cardinals -- like most modern defenses -- typically align their tackles.
Put it all together -- the established production, the pass rushing ability, the fit in Arizona's defense -- and Tomlinson is a calculus-changing addition for the Cardinals' defense. It's also a move that could enable general manager Monti Ossenfort to take a best-player-available approach in April's draft, rather than filling a dire need on his defensive line.