Free agent targets Steelers must break the bank for in 2023

4. Steelers could shore up their defensive line with Dalvin Tomlinson

In general, I’m not a fan of paying big money for a nose tackle. Unless he plays elsewhere on the line, a traditional nose tackle is only on the field roughly a third of the time, and a large cap hit isn’t worth that. Dalvin Tomlinson isn’t a traditional nose tackle though, as he can plug the run and rush the passer.

Tomlinson burst onto the scene as a traditional run plugger that took up space well. He played the past two years with the Vikings, and he developed into more of a pass rusher in that time. He graded out strongly there in 2022 with a 77.1 grade from PFF, although he had one of his worst seasons as a run defender. Even then, Tomlinson was still a dynamic presence in the middle of the defense.

While he is a bit on the older side, Tomlinson should be an effective player for a few more seasons. He would slot in well as the Steelers nose tackle that could rush the passer in sub-package plays. This team has lacked a menacing presence in the middle since an injury derailed Tyson Alualu’s career revival, but Tomlinson could be the cure for that.