Philadelphia Eagles: Could Dillard’s addition shift Peters inside?

After playing tackle at a Hall of Fame-level, could Andre Dillard’s addition shift Jason Peters inside to guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019?

When Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles brass decided to trade up to select Andre Dillard 22nd overall, it seemed like the team had finally found their left tackle of the future.

Now don’t get me wrong, the team still has high hopes for Jordan Mailata, and will likely keep Halapoulivaati Vaitai around for the final year of his four-year, $3.6 million rookie deal, but in Dillard, the Eagles have finally found a tackle with the size, speed, and athleticism of a vintage Jason Peters; the player he will eventually be replacing.

But what if Dillard’s ascension to left tackle happens a whole lot sooner than many expect? What if Dillard takes over at left tackle this season and the 37-year-old Peters shifts inside to moonlight as a guard for the twilight years of his career?

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With all five members of their starting line returning from last season, the Eagles could very simply opt to keep continuity and roll with the same unit in 2019, but would the team really value continuity over having their best lineman on the field?

I’d hope not.

Sure, on the surface this may seem like an odd suggestion, as Peters still played at a very high level in 2018 despite missing noticeable snaps due to injury,  but the choice really isn’t between who’s better, Peters or Dillard; but who’s better, Dillard versus Isaac Seumalo.

Last season, Seumalo was clearly the team’s weakest link in the trenches; finishing out the season as Pro Football Focus‘ 45th overall guard with a PFF Offensive grade of 62.1. Peters, conversely, finished out the season with a 69.6 grade, surrendering one more sack and three more quarterback hits despite playing the much more athletically vigorous left tackle position.

While Peters may not be the athlete he once was, he still found a way to get it done against some of the league’s premier edge rushers, but for how long can he consistently keep that pace up?

If the Eagles were to give Dillard the nod at left tackle, it would allow Peters to remain a pivotal part of the ‘big uglies’ up front while shifting to the less physically demanding guard position. Without having to kick out on every play, Peters could optimize the athleticism he has left, while giving the team a truly elite performer at each position across their front five.

Furthermore, by giving Dillard the nod on the outside, the Eagles would once again have two tackles who ran sub-5.0 40 yard dashes at the combine, for the first time since Lane Johnson was on a rookie deal.

Rolling with Seumalo at left guard doesn’t necessarily make the team worse, but shifting Peters inside arguably makes the Eagles better at two different positions, and could help to lengthen ‘The Body Guard’s career out past the 2019 season if he so chooses.

After playing 10 years with the Eagles, all of which at a Pro Bowl, or near-Pro Bowl-level, Peters has earned a right to decide how his career ends in the City of Brotherly Love. If he wants to take Dillard under his wing and help to develop the 23-year-old into the team’s next left tackle of the future while playing out his career at his signature position that’s on him, but if Jason Peters wants to extend his career out and continue to play at a high level, it may be best for all parties involved if he transitions inside to play guard in 2019.

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