New York Giants Awards: Who’s Big Blue’s MVP, ROY, DROY?
By Henry Buggy
New York Giants Defensive Rookie of the Year – Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson winning Defensive Rookie of the Year for Big Blue is a no-brainer.
The Giants second-round pick out of Alabama has started every game in his rookie season. He has immediately filled the void at defensive tackle after the departure of Johnathan Hankins in free agency. He has proven himself one of the best defensive rookies to come out of the 2017 class.
Through the first 15 weeks of the 2017 season, Tomlinson had recorded the most run stops (21) for a rookie interior defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus’ Mark Chichester. New York’s 6-foot-3, 317-pound defensive tackle has recorded 46 combined tackles, one sack, and one tackle for a loss.
While his numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, New York’s interior defensive line is arguably the team’s greatest strength this season. The G-Men have struggled against the run in 2017. But New York’s depleted linebacking crops have surely played a factor in the team’s 28th ranked rush defense.
Despite a terrible season, Tomlinson’s play should give Giants fans some hope for 2018 and the future.