3 defensive free agents the Cowboys should target in 2021

1. Dalvin Tomlinson, DL

The Dallas Cowboys pass defense was atrocious last year. However, the teams’ run defense was arguably even worse finishing the season with the second-most rushing yards allowed per game with 158.8. The team could definitely use a dominant run-stuffer to bolster their defensive line.

That need would be met if the Cowboys sign defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson. The 27-year old defender has been played his entire career thus far for Dallas’s rival New York Giants.

Tomlinson has had 3.5 sacks in each of his past two seasons in New York and managed to get a career-high eight tackles for loss last year as well. That number would have been good for the second-highest on Dallas last season only behind defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

Despite the fact that the Dallas Cowboys have two potentially promising young defensive tackles in Trysten Hill and Neville Gallimore the addition of Tomlinson would bolster the position and add a (somewhat) veteran presence to the unit.

Currently, the 27-year old lineman has an expected market value, according to Spotrac, of over $11 million per year. That means that Dallas might have to undertake additional moves in order to sign him this offseason. However, considering the teams’ struggles against the run last year and the lack of top-level talent at the position in the draft signing Tomlinson would probably be worth it.

The Dallas Cowboys have found themselves in the unexpected position of potentially being players in this free agency. The team should try and target these players (or others) to fill their plethora of needs on the defensive side of the ball. Fans of America’s Team should keep a close eye on these free agents and hopefully prepare to root for them come next fall.