NFL veteran guard Laken Tomlinson signed a new theee-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets. Laken Tomlinson spent the 2021 season with the San Francisco 49ers.
49ers free-agent guard Laken Tomlinson intends to sign with the NY Jets, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2022
Laken Tomlinson Signs With New York Jets
Tomlinson made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2021. The 49ers offensive guard replaced Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin in the Pro Bowl after Martin pulled himself out of the event. Tomlinson proved his durability last season. He played every offensive snap for the 49ers in 2021, a total of 1,091. In fact, Tomlinson has played every offensive snap of every 49ers game since 2019.
For Tomlinson’s career, he has only missed one game in seven seasons. That one missed game was the 2017 season opener for the 49ers. He had been traded that year to the 49ers by the Detroit Lions on August 31st.
Tomlinson spent his first two seasons of his NFL career with the Lions. During those years, Tomlinson struggled with his development as an NFL player. As a member of the Lions, he had trouble being consistent at his game. That lack of consistently cost Tomlinson his starting role to Graham Glasgow. After only two seasons, he was traded to the 49ers where he flourished.
Tomlinson Was a First Round Draft Pick
Tomlinson was drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 28th overall pick. He played his college career at Duke University from 2011-2014. While at Duke he was an All-American and won the Anthony J. McKevlin Award, which was the men’s ACC Athlete of the Year.
Tomlinson was born in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica and moved to Chicago when he was only 11 years old. He attended Lane Technical College Prep High School where he was a two-sport star in football and track. Growing up, Tomlinson wanted to become a doctor when his grandfather died of a stomach ulcer. He was not familiar with American football until he was introduced to the game by his uncle. The 6’3″ 315-pound guard has attributed his size to eating American food when he left Jamaica.
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