Tight end Eric Tomlinson back to compete for Giants’ job again

After a vagabond season in the NFL that included a pitstop with the New York Giants, can tight end Eric Tomlinson find a home this season with the Giants?

Let’s take a closer look.

The basics

Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 263
Age: 28
Experience: 4
Contract: One-year, $1.02 million

How he got here

Tomlinson spent three seasons as a reserve tight end and special teamer with the New York Jets.

When the Jets cut Tomlinson prior to last season the Giants, looking for depth, picked him up. He played three games for the Giants, got let go, landed with the New England Patriots for two games, got let go again and finished the season playing three games for the Oakland Raiders.

The brief stop in New England, of course, meant he crossed paths with Giants head coach Joe Judge. The Giants brought Tomlinson in to compete for a job this offseason.

2020 outlook

At first glance, Tomlinson would look like an odd man out in the in the competition for spots on the 53-man roster. The Giants do have Evan Engram, Kaden Smith, and Levine Toilolo. Not to mention Garrett Dickerson, and interesting undrafted free agents Kyle Markway and Rysen John.

Then again ...

Football is a game of injuries, and capable depth players are always valuable. Especially in a year complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for games lose to illness. Tomlinson isn’t a great player. He is mostly a blocking tight end and special teams player who has only 17 receptions in 44 NFL games. He keeps, though, getting jobs. So, he has to have some skills that are attractive to NFL coaches.

Tomlinson obviously won’t be the Giants’ first choice at tight end. If they decide to keep four tight ends, or if injury/illness strike the position, Tomlinson landing on the roster can’t be discounted.