Dalvin

Tomlinson

Tomlinson has plenty left in the tank entering his age-31 season. The former Brown totaled 36 quarterback pressures and four sacks last year, both of which tied career-highs. The Cardinals defensive tackle group totaled the 13th-most quarterback pressures (99) and were tied for the eighth-most NFL sacks (14.0) last year. Tomlinson’s addition should push those numbers even higher this year.

The transaction will be finalized when the new league year starts on Wednesday, at which point Tomlinson will be free to sign with any team. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tomlinson will be designated as a post-June 1 cut. His release will create $6.4 million in cap space while leaving the Browns with a $5 million dead cap charge. Tomlinson had two years left on his four-year, $57 million contract with the Browns. The big man notched three sacks and six TFLs in 2024 with a nearly identical stat line in 2023. While not an elite defender, Tomlinson is a solid interior lineman who should earn a multi-year deal on the open market.

A hamstring injury landed Newsome on the PUP list last month, but he’s now set to rejoin the defense that ranked 13th in points per game and first in yards allowed per game. Newsome totaled 49 tackles and two interceptions last season while earning a PFF coverage grade of 74.6. He also broke up 10 passes and allowed a 58.2 percent catch rate. In addition to Newsome, the Browns also activated DT Dalvin Tomlinson from the PUP list.

Stefanski hopes Tomlison will be ready by Week 1, putting the lineman’s availability up in the air until further notice. Tomlinson totaled 28 tackles and three sacks for the Browns in 16 games last season while also notching four TFLs. He’s not expected to return before the end of training camp, making this injury one to monitor as we get closer to the start of the season.

The deal includes $27.5 million guaranteed. Working to overhaul a defensive line overly reliant on Myles Garrett, the Browns have now added both Tomlinson and Ogbo Okoronkwo. Headed into his age-29 campaign, Tomlinson remains one of the league’s better run stoppers.

Tomlinson has been out since leaving Week 8 with the injury. His return should strengthen the middle of the Vikings run defense, which is not great news for Zonovan Knight and the rest of the Jets running game.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted that Tomlinson is trending in the right direction and could be available for Week 13 against the Jets. However, the Vikings will be without their top interior defensive lineman on Thanksgiving night.

Tomlinson, dealing with a calf issue, was ruled out on Friday and will miss his second straight game. With Cam Dantzler sent to injured reserve on Saturday, the Minnesota injury report is extremely light. Everyone else is a healthy scratch.

Tomlinson has not practiced since hurting himself in Week 8 against Arizona and has been ruled out of two straight contests. It bodes well for Buffalo’s running game in Week 10 that Minnesota’s best interior defender is out. The Vikings may soon have to consider IR for Tomlinson if they don’t see a meaningful improvement next week.

Tomlinson has been Minnesota’s top-graded interior defensive player per PFF grades and he’ll be missed against Washington. It’s a slight upgrade for Washington’s running backs.