Tomlinson is an badly undersized CB if you want to play him outside where he has only played in college. CB is one of the most technique critical positions in the NFL. Depending upon the program the player comes from it takes an average of 1-3 years to develop a starting CB. Most CBs take a big leap in their abilities in their second year.
As an undersized CB Tomlinson's technique is even more critical and his lack of technique is clearly evident. I remember an interview that was with Jason Verrett an undersized boundary CB. He lacked the agility to play SCB and so he's only played boundary. Jason talked about how when a player is undersized, his margin for error is decreased dramatically. It's simple geometry where the undersized player must play closer to the receiver if that receiver is significantly taller. I predicted a relatively short career for Verrett because smaller CBs need to play more physically on the boundary making them susceptible to injury. That has proven to be the case with Verrett.
I'm not surprised about Tomlinson not playing. He has never played SCB and it's probably for the same reason Verrett never did. Tomlinson can be successful on the outside, but he's going to have to take a huge leap in his development, i.e. technique for him to do it. The earliest we are likely to see Tomlinson playing is in a rotational role next year. I don't understand McVay's fascination with undersized players.
Case in point a player like CB TJ Tampa is 6'2" 200 lbs and runs a 4.45 is the type of guy they can get in round 2-4. The reason he isn't going to go higher is because he's best as a LCB, i.e. a CB who is best playing off the LOS. He's got good speed, and can play both man and zone schemes. He will need a year to polish his technique but projects as a good boundary CB prospect much like how the Rams use
Ahkello Witherspoon who is also 6'2" and 200 lbs and timed at 4.45.
IMO a guy like Tampa will project to be a starter before Tomlinson who I see as a rotational boundary CB or a dime DB. This is why I think the Rams will try to extend Witherspoon for 2 years and draft a guy like Tampa to eventually replace him.
Cobie Durant is from a smaller program but he has a lot of upsides athleticism and speed needed at boundary CB and at 5'11" was typical size for an outside CB a few years ago. Now he's slightly undersized but not overly so. His problem is again needing to develop the techniques he needs at this level. I think he will be fine as an outside CB if given the opportunity to simply focus on developing his technique for that position. SCB requires a vet to play it well. It's the most difficult of all the CB positions to master. It shows me that Morris really doesn't understand the concept of scheme or position fit when he tried to move Durant to SCB. All he did was retard Durant's development because both positions are different in their technique. It's why Shelley who's only played SCB struggled outside. Again another illustration of Morris' ignorance or indifference of position fit.