5 free-agent DTs for Panthers to pair with Derrick Brown in 2021

Dalvin Tomlinson

• 2020 team – New York Giants

A 16-game starter in each of his first four seasons after being drafted in the second round out of Alabama, Dalvin Tomlinson has shown the ability to stay healthy and affect the game. Something the Carolina Panthers have struggled with at the defensive tackle position in recent memory.

While being touted as more of a run stopper by most observers as his Pro Football Focus scouting report put it. Tomlinson also shows the ability to get after the quarterback with 3.5 sacks in both of the past two seasons for the New York Giants.

While sacks are certainly the flashier stat, if you can’t stop the run effectively then your pass defense gets put in a bind. The Panthers ranked 20th in rush defense last year and 18th against the pass. So there is clearly a need in both areas and a player like Tomlinson would fit well as he has the ability to instantly improve both.

With 49 tackles, 25 of which were solo, and eight for a loss last season, Tomlinson’s ability to gravitate toward the ball would be a welcome addition to a Panthers team that struggled at times in that area last year. Brian Burns led the defensive line with 58 tackles and Brown was second with 34.

A clear gap between No.1 and No.2 which Tomlinson’s 49 would slide in well.

In a year where there are bigger names to be kept around, Tomlinson could become another victim of the falling cap. If so, Carolina should be on the phone to get not only a starter but the type of player that doesn’t come available often.