San Francisco added both Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere on Friday
The San Francisco 49ers signed two offensive tackles on Friday, Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere, following their first look at their new players at rookie minicamp. Dillard spent the 2024 season with the Green Bay Packers, where he was a reserve tackle on the team and played only 13 offensive snaps during the year. The former Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick was often the subject of trade deadline rumors, but a trade never manifested for Dillard.
If the name Petit-Frere rings a bell, it’s because the Packers had a hell of a game against his Tennessee Titans last year. Petit-Frere was arguably the league’s worst preferred starting tackle in the pass-blocking category last year. Versus Green Bay, the Titans gave up eight sacks. In the Packers’ other 16 regular-season games in 2024, Green Bay combined for just 37 total sacks (2.3 per game).
I’m not sure how much better the 49ers got today, but at least they have a little experience on their bench at the tackle position now. Colton McKivitz, who is on a two-year, $4.6 million deal, and D.J. Humphries, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract this offseason, were expected to compete at right tackle for San Francisco this year. Now they have a little more competition to win those jobs.
The 49ers didn’t add an offensive lineman in last month’s NFL draft before the seventh round, despite losing Aaron Banks (Packers), Jaylon Moore (Chiefs) and Charlie Heck (Buccaneers) — all players who started games for their offensive line — in free agency.
Dillard was one of two of the Packers’ remaining unrestricted free agents who had previously not signed with a team in the 2025 offseason. With Dillard off of the board, the final unrestricted free agent from the 2024 team is tight end Tyler Davis, who has dealt with several serious injuries over the past few years. With that being said, cornerback Robert Rochell has since hit the market again, after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs.