Dallas Cowboys must now go out and hire their mercenary
By Angel Torres
DT – Dalvin Tomlinson
It is almost shocking that the New York Giants didn’t franchise Leanord Williams and try and get a long-term deal with one technique Dalvin Tomlinson. Williams is the better player as he is a penetrating three-technique with run-stopping abilities but a pure run-stuffer is sorely needed in Dallas.
The New York Giants knew that they could pay linebacker Blake Martinez good money last offseason because of the protection they had upfront and I would expect similar results if Tomlinson signs in Dallas. Martinez had a stellar year for New York last season.
Tomlinson to me would be worthy of paying not only because it hurts a divisional opponent but because the falloff after him is pretty steep. Years of neglect at this position by Dallas will now cost the team much more had they shored up the spot before this year.
I would expect the team to be in the market for his services around the $8 -$12 million mark. Before you balk at that idea just remember the Dallas Cowboys paid defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford $9 million last year for two sacks and 14 total tackles. Crawford played in all 16 games and started three times this past season.
The attraction with Tomlinson has to do with his ability to free up others in the system. Tomlinson will be paid handsomely but his numbers will never look like he is effective on the stat sheet but his ability to occupy space will free up Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith.
This signing will also allow the Cowboys to get a complete picture of how to handle their linebackers moving forward. With Tomlinson protecting the linebackers behind him, there will no longer be an excuse to keep or release their pricey backers.
Tomlinson would also force the New York Giants to try and find a less expensive starter which should help the Cowboys run game twice a year. The Giants did a wonderful job of developing Tomlinson after drafting the former Alabama defensive lineman and I just hope the Cowboys can be the beneficiary from the fruit of that labor.