Browns to sign DT Dalvin Tomlinson to four-year deal

The Browns were viewed as the favorites to sign Cleveland native Dre’Mont Jones, but the Seahawks look to have presented a better offer. Cleveland will still leaving Day 1 of the legal tampering period with a big name at defensive tackle.

Dalvin Tomlinson plans to sign with the Browns, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal will be worth $57M over four years, representing a longer commitment than the Vikings gave the run-stopping D-tackle in 2021. Tomlinson will receive $27.5M guaranteed.

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expressed interest in keeping the veteran defender in Minnesota, but he is heading to Cleveland on a deal worth nearly $13M per year. This will bring a raise for the former Giants second-round pick, who was tied to a two-year, $21M Vikings pact from 2021-22. 

Minnesota moved Tomlinson’s void-years vesting date back, aiming to extend him and not be hit with the void bill. With the Browns beating them out for the interior defender, the Vikings will be tagged with $7.5M in dead money as a result of Tomlinson’s previous contract structure.

For the Browns, this is an overdue signing. Cleveland struggled against the run last season, which came after the team curiously passed on doing much to staff its defensive tackle positions. 

Tomlinson, 29, is one of the NFL’s best run-defending D-tackles; his contract reflects that. The Browns ranked 25th in rushing yards allowed and in terms of yards per carry (4.7) last season.

Previously a part of a Giants D-line that housed Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence and B.J. Hill up front, Tomlinson has been a starter throughout his career. Pro Football Focus has rated Tomlinson as a top-30 interior D-lineman in every season of his career. 

The Alabama product also tallied a career-high 10 quarterback hits last season. A Vikings defense that fared worse than the Browns’ in 2022 will certainly miss Tomlinson, who joins Eric Kendricks and Patrick Peterson in leading the team. The Vikings also may be parting ways with Za’Darius Smith.

Last year, the Browns effectively stood down at defensive tackle. They signed ex-Jaguars first-round bust Taven Bryan and used Jordan Elliott as a 17-game starter. 

PFF ranked Elliott as a bottom-tier D-tackle last season; Browns contributor Perrion Winfrey joined him in ranking outside the top 115 at the position. Tomlinson now joins Obo Okoronkwo up front for Cleveland alongside Myles Garrett.