Sometimes, NFL Draft busts just need a change in scenery. The team that selected them may have been a poor fit, or the organization may just not have known how to unlock a player's talent.
Andre Dillard had no such excuses as a first-round pick joining a team that was in the midst of one of the best stretches of developing offensive linemen you'll ever see. And the two seasons since then have proven that the struggles were on Dillard, not on the Eagles.
But even the Eagles fans who still hold grudges about Dillard's run in Philly will probably spare some sympathy for the guy after some brutal injury news broke on Thursday. This is the kind of thing that could spell the beginning of the end of his NFL career.
49ers place OT Andre DIllard on Injured Reserve; he just came off PUP on Monday
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 14, 2025
Former Eagles Tackle Andre Dillard Finds His Career in Jeopardy With Latest Injury News
The San Francisco 49ers, who signed Dillard as a free agent back in May, have placed him on season-ending IR. The only way he'd have a chance to play in 2025, now, is if the 49ers terminated his contract with an injury settlement.
Dillard's injury hasn't been disclosed, but he began his 49ers career on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and on Monday was finally activated after passing a physical and being cleared to return to practice. After a missed season, Dillard will once again be a free agent next offseason. And finding a new job is going to be a serious uphill battle at that point.
He'll be 30 years old next summer (turning 31 early in the 2026 season), and he'll be two full seasons removed from starting a game. He'll also be looking for his fourth team in as many years.
Dillard saw the field for only 13 snaps as a Green Bay Packer in 2024, which was a lot like 2022 when he played only 37 in his final year as an Eagle. He did make 10 starts for the Tennessee Titans in 2023. He received an abysmal grade of 51.0 from PFF that year, anchoring a line that gave up the NFL's fourth-most sacks. His services won't exactly be in high demand.
Dillard will never be fondly remembered in Eagles lore, but seeing his career fizzle out with an injury still isn't likely to bring a smile to many faces. Besides, Philadelphia has offensive line injury concerns of their own to worry about.