The New York Giants came into the second night of the 2017 NFL Draft under scrutiny from their fans for choosing Ole Miss TE Evan Engram, who many felt they took a round too early. With TE addressed, the wish list coming into tonight was: offensive tackle, linebacker, running back and quarterback.
In Round Two, selecting 23rd (55th overall), the Giants picked DT Dalvin Tomlinson of Alabama. The pick was read by Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson. Tomlinson (6’3”, 310) is a typical rotational Crimson Tide defensive lineman. He’ll be in the rotation with the Giants, attempting to fill the hole left by the departure of Johnathan Hankins.
More about Dalvin Tomlinson:
“Prototypical Alabama defensive tackle who wins with leverage, power and technique. Tomlinson’s powerful frame and ability to stack the run between the tackles could make him a scheme-flexible target in the draft. While he is likely to be drafted as a run bully, his history of operating in Alabama’s stunt-and-twist-oriented defense could help keep him on the field on third downs for teams using a similar concept. Tomlinson has a chance to become an early starter and should work into a defensive line rotation immediately.” – NFL.com
Giants GM Jerry Reese has had some success of late in the second round, selecting C Weston RIchburg in 2014, trading up in 2015 to take safety Landon Collins in 2015 and then snatching up WR Sterling Shepard last year. Tomlinson, because of the star power on the Tide’s roster flew under the radar but he is a quality prospect who will snuggle right up beside Snacks Harrison this season.
Fans will hate this pick because Tomlinson is not a linebacker or an offensive tackle. But don’t forget, the Giants still have five selections to go. Tomlinson is the seventh Alabama player to be taken in the first picks in this draft.
Tomlinson had several ACL surgeries but Reese said that he “played with them for three years” and hey had no issues with his health. Tomlinson has a degree in finance and is going for a second degree in financial planning.
“We want him to play football,” said Reese. “We don’t want him to do our taxes or anything like that. We want him to come in, stop that run and push that pocket so our defensive ends can get to the quarterback.”
More from Reese: “Big guy that we think can come in and compete for a starting job for us. Create a lot of competition at that position. He’s a two-gap type player. He can hold the point of attack, has that NFL toughness that we like and the profile that we like. We thought he was a terrific pick right here right now at this point in the draft…. We interviewed him at the combine. He was one of the best interviews we thought out of the entire combine. He was one of the best guys we interviewed. He’s a New York Giant kind of player….