Tre

Tomlinson

The 2023 sixth-round pick was waived by the Rams earlier this week. Tomlinson was a high-volume special teamer as a rookie but didn’t see the field much on defense. He missed all of the 2024 season with an undisclosed injury. Tomlinson will look to revive his career as a depth option for the 49ers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that Tomlinson won the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football’s top defensive back. Tomlinson played sparingly as a 2023 rookie and dealt with late-season injury issues. He was placed on the 2024 injured reserve list after suffering an undisclosed, season-ending preseason injury. Hopefully, a fresh start can revitalize a once-promising career.

The No. 182, No. 189, and No. 215 overall picks are now under contract in Los Angeles after multiple players received restructured contracts this offseason to make room against the cap for the rookie class. All three players should be on the outside looking in as far as expected playing time goes in 2023 but have the opportunity to work their way up the depth chart when camp opens in under three weeks.

Hodges-Tomlinson (5’8/178) is the nephew of NFL legend LaDanian and followed his Uncle’s legacy by enrolling at TCU. A highly-productive player and the stopper for the Horned Frogs’ national championship runner-up defense, Hodges-Tomlinson broke up an astounding 40 passes with 117 tackles and a suffocating 34.6% catch rate allowed last year. Outside of his diminutive size, TDH checks a lot of boxes athletically, running a 4.41s 40-yard dash (91st%), 1.47s 10-yard split (99th%), 39” vertical (91st%) and 11’00” broad (97th%). Scrappy and determined play style to make up for his stature, he’s only played outside corner where alpha NFL wideouts could potentially shove him in a locker if he’s not in perfect position. Penalties are a major issue, drawing 14 flags in 2022 which doesn’t bode well for his NFL transition. Tomlinson will likely be asked to try out slot coverage by the Rams, how he handles that move will determine the amount of playing time he ultimately receives.