Former Giants DL Dalvin Tomlinson signing with Vikings (Report)

Dalvin Tomlinson is leaving the Giants for Minnesota. The talented defensive lineman signed a two-year deal with the Vikings.

It was going to be tough to re-sign both Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson — this is a business, people forget that. And on Monday night, the Giants lost out on the latter.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tomlinson has signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Vikings. He’ll earn $20 million total in guaranteed money.

Source: Dalvin Tomlinson to #Vikings
2 years, $22M
$20M total guarantee
$16M fully guaranteed
$15M Signing Bonus
$16M First Year

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021

Some expected this to occur, especially after the Giants re-signed defensive tackle Austin Johnson to a one-year deal earlier on Monday.

The Giants could’ve extended Tomlinson last season when he was eligible, but that obviously didn’t occur. This forced them to come to terms on a deal within a shorter timeframe during an offseason in which the cap is down and they also need to bring back Williams.

It wasn’t the best planning on the Giants’ part, and now, it’s costing them. Tomlinson is one of the more underrated players at his position in the league and was an integral part of the team’s successful defensive performance in 2020.

Williams can still be re-signed but will be the more expensive of the two; he may receive around $20 million annually in a new contract. The Giants have franchise tagged Williams and want to sign him to a long-term deal, but it’s unclear if and when that deal will actually come to fruition. It would be best for the team to sign him sooner rather than later to clear cap room in hopes of acquiring a new No. 1 receiver in free agency.

The Giants will move forward with Dexter Lawrence, B.J. Hill, and Johnson on the defensive line. Williams (hopefully) as well — we just don’t know if it will be on a long-term deal or his second consecutive franchise tag.