Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard isn’t the next Jason Peters
While Andre Dillard very well may become the Philadelphia Eagles next left tackle, expecting him to be the next Jason Peters is unrealistic.
Well, well, well, it looks like the Philadelphia Eagles won’t have to prepare for life after Jason Peters after all – at least not in 2020.
That’s right; according to Derrick Gunn on the Jon Marks & Ike Reese show, Peters has turned down multiple offers from other teams because the Eagles “want him”. Even at 38-years-old, Peters looks quick, agile, and technically sound in the workout videos he’s shared online and could instantly retake his spot as Carson Wentz‘s blindside blocker from the jump.
Good news for the Eagles, bad news for Andre Dillard.
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I know, I know, I shouldn’t say that. Peters is a clear upgrade over Dillard this fall and his return would provide the Eagles’ offense with some much-needed continuity on the left side going into another tough season but for how long? Peters has only played in 16 games once over the last three seasons and almost single-handedly earned Halapoulivaati Vaitai a massive payday from the Detroit Lions thanks to ample opportunities to spell the future Hall of Famer over his rookie contract.
Dillard is a much better prospect than Vaitai both coming out of college and right now – just compare their draft spot – but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to be the next Jason Peters.
Why? Because no one is the next Jason Peters.
I mean, think about it, how many other All-Pro tackles came into the NFL as undrafted free agents? A few, I’m sure, but how many of those players didn’t even play the position until they went pro? It’s easy to forget that Peters initially entered the league as an in-line blocking tight end out of Arkansas and didn’t even become a full-time starter until his second professional season.
Heck, Peters didn’t even make the Buffalo Bills‘ roster as a rookie, having to bid his time on the practice squad until injuries earned the then-22-year-old a November call up.
By contrast, Dillard is a decorated air raid offensive tackle who has been a left tackle all his life and rode that wave of dominant play to a first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Dillard only allowed one sack on almost 700 pass-blocking snaps in 2018 and capped off his college career with an impressive showing at the 2019 combine – where he ran a sub-5 40-yard dash and a 1.69 10-yard split.
Many pundits considered Dillard the best pass blocker in the entire 2019 class and his falling to pick 21 was viewed as a minor draft night miracle for a team with a need for an eventual heir for their long-time left tackle.
The Eagles’ decision to trade up two spots to select Dillard single-handedly eviscerated the Houston Texans’ draft strategy and forced the team to not only select a pair of lesser tackles in Alabama State‘s Tytus Howard, and Northern Illinois‘ Max Scharping but also surrender a ton of future capitol to steal Laremy Tunsil away from the Miami Dolphins.
Clearly Bill O’Brien believed Dilliard is a starting-caliber left tackle, when has he ever been wrong about player evaluation?
Will Dillard ever make nine-Pro Bowl appearances, let alone one? Maybe one day, but that likely won’t happen in 2020, regardless of whether he calls Peters a teammate or a foe. Washington State‘s air raid system is not particularly known for cultivating NFL-caliber offensive linemen, in large part because of its idiosyncrasies. Dillard seldom had to stay with his man for longer than a seven-step drop, wasn’t tasked with executing a complex run game, and didn’t even have to put his hands in the dirt before the ball was snapped. Still, his natural athletic gifts are tantalizing, especially if he can figure out how to finely tune them for full-time greatness.
In that regard, it may not be the worst thing if Dillard has to spend one more season honing his craft under Peters’ tutelage, as I can’t think of a better player to teach an offensive tackle the ways of their collective trade than a nine-time Pro Bowler who had to get there the hard way.
For much of his career with the Eagles, Peters was the best player in the world at what he does. Expecting that same level of production out of Dillard when he eventually takes over is probably unrealistic, but then again, who expected Peters to ever fill the hole in Philly fan’s hearts left by Jon Runyan‘s 2008 exit? Change is the only constant in the NFL.
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Like it or not, Jason Peters isn’t going to play forever. Sure, he’s weathered one potential threat to his throne in 2016 fifth-round pick Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but eventually, someone is going to take his place at the Philadelphia Eagles’ left tackle of the future. For the sake of the Philadelphia Eagles’ franchise, let’s hope that player is Andre Dillard, as his development is vital to maintaining a dominant offensive front well into the 2020s.