Signing Dalvin Tomlinson was one of the more under-the-radar moves this offseason. The Los Angeles Chargers took a buy-low swing on him after he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals. For a guaranteed contract figure of just $5.69 million, Los Angeles secured the veteran NT for a one-year deal. His 2026 cap hit will be $6.8 million.
Tomlinson was also signed in part because of how the Chargers tend to work the compensatory pick formula. After being cut by the Cardinals, he no longer counted against it. That aspect of the deal joins a long list of veterans Joe Hortiz has signed under the same circumstances on fairly cheap contracts. For example, Keaton Mitchell and Alec Ingold also did not count against the comp pick formula.
New Chargers NT Dalvin Tomlinson is ready for his bounceback campaign after a down year in Arizona.
Tomlinson spoke to the media for the first time since joining the Chargers on Monday. And he probably won fans over with a particular line: "Just knowing Tomlinson looks good on a Chargers jersey."
The former Browns and Cardinals NT said that the transition has been "smooth" so far. Schematically, Tomlinson brought up something that he likes about his fit in the Chargers' defense vs. Arizona's last season.
"I felt like last year I was in a set position upfront. And I felt like it took away from my game a little bit," Tomlinson admitted. "It was super important just to be able to rush from a wide 3 and stuff like that. Kinda similar to what I did in Cleveland and stuff like that: be disruptive up front. Because I didn't just want to just sit in one spot and then get game planned the whole game when I can just move around and surprise the offense."
Having another big body in Tomlinson likely gives the Chargers some flexibility in the personnel packages they can run. After also re-signing Teair Tart, Los Angeles has a lot of options for how they could pair their DTs and EDGEs.
Time will tell if Tomlinson's performance improves from last season with more freedom to move around the front. Tomlinson is coming off of a season that was his career worst from a pass rush and run defense standpoint. However, DL coach Mike Elston has had his success with career revivals before. Poona Ford played his way back into a big contract with the Rams. The aforementioned Tart got a huge extension with the Chargers after his career was thought to be on the ropes. Los Angeles has often done more with less on the defensive line and Tomlinson could be next up in Elston's series of career rehabilitations.
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