The Packers Signing of Andre Dillard Doesn’t Change Their Need at Offensive Tackle

The Green Bay Packers signed free agent offensive tackle Andre Dillard on Thursday, giving the team some more depth at a premium position that needed reinforcements. But what it doesn’t do is change the team’s overall need for more talent and depth at tackle.

Dillard has talent. The former Washington State star was a first-round pick of the Eagles back in 2019. He was the 22^nd overall pick in that draft and Dillard has the athletic ability that GM Brian Gutekunst looks for in an offensive lineman. He stands 6’5” and weighs 315 pounds and ran a 4.96 40-yard dash at the combine before he was drafted.

But Dillard never fully developed that talent in the NFL. He has started only 19 games total in four seasons in the NFL with 10 of those coming last season with the Tennessee Titans.

Dillard missed the entire 2020 season with torn biceps. Since then, the Eagles declined to pick up his fifth-year option. He signed a lucrative, three-year, $29 million contract with Tennessee, but they let him go after just one season.

In 12 games with the Titans, Dillard allowed 12 sacks, more than any other tackle graded by Pro Football Focus. He was benched twice but returned to the lineup when injuries struck along the offensive line and the Titans needed him to step in.

Dillard’s pass blocking grade from PFF was worse than Royce Newman’s and only slightly better than Sean Rhyan’s. He was in the bottom 10 among the 81 graded pass protectors in the NFL according to PFF.

His run blocking grade was a bit better which leaves him below average in that department.

Offensive line coach Luke Butkus will have to work with Dillard on his technique if he hopes to resurrect his career. He’s never lived up to his billing as a first round pick in the NFL.

What Dillard gives the Packers is an experienced backup who may be able to fill in for a game or two if there is an injury to one of their starters along the offensive line. At best, he’s a swing tackle and insurance policy but barring a big turnaround in his play, he is not a long-term answer to the Packers needs at tackle.

Before they signed Dillard, the team had no experienced backup tackles without moving starting left guard Elgton Jenkins to the outside. The other depth tackles on the roster right now are Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort, and Caleb Jones. Jones has played in one NFL game and played one special teams snap. Tenuta played in three games in 2022 and played a total of 25 snaps while Telfort has yet to take a snap in an NFL regular season contest.

The Packers may have an even bigger need at tackle if they move Zach Tom to center. This was discussed as a possibility during the offseason. That would mean the team would have just one starting caliber tackle on their roster and would need to add another to the mix.

If Dillard plays well this summer, he can make the team and give the Packers some depth. If not, the Packers can easily walk away from his contract and move on.

The 2024 NFL Draft has depth at offensive tackle and the Packers have a need there. Gutekunst may not select a tackle in the first round, but it remains a possibility depending on how the board falls. With five picks in the top 100, it is likely the Pack adds at least one tackle in those five selections. They may add another player in the later rounds of the draft.

Overall, Dillard is a player who can provide depth and with the right coaching, may even be a serviceable swing tackle. But unless he shows marked improvement over his past performances in the NFL, he will not move the needle much when it comes to the Packers overall need at the tackle position.