Packers 2021 free agency profile: Dalvin Tomlinson

The Green Bay Packers will be limited in what they can do in free agency this season given their salary cap as things stand.

However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to make some moves once free agency begins.

With a month to go until the new league year gets underway, we’re going to look at some free-agent options for Green Bay. We start with defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.

Why the Packers could have interest

For starters, the Packers did have interest in bringing in Tomlinson. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported in November that the team offered a mid-round pick to the New York Giants for Tomlinson.

But he was still set to hit free agency this offseason. It’s one thing to trade a mid-round pick for a player you think can help in the current year, but committing to a multi-year deal is a different situation entirely. However, it does show that the Packers believe Tomlinson is a talented player who can help their defense.

Perhaps the switch at defensive coordinator will change that view, but I’d say it’s unlikely. The Packers desperately need defensive line depth and Tomlinson is a talented player.

The 26-year-old has never missed a game for the Giants, making 207 tackles, eight sacks, and 20 quarterback hits in four seasons. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017.

Importantly, Tomlinson would strengthen the defensive line and help the Packers against the run.

The contract

Here’s the biggest concern for the Packers and a likely reason why they won’t sign Tomlinson.

Spotrac projects Tomlinson will earn an average salary of $11.4 million on a multi-year deal. While significantly cheaper than Kenny Clark’s deal in Green Bay, it’s still a lot to pay and the Packers would need to structure the deal in such a way to make it work for 2021, while also creating cap room.

Never say never, and there’s no doubt Tomlinson could help Joe Barry’s defense, but the contract he’ll likely receive will probably be too much for Green Bay to afford.