The first round of the NFL Draft is one of the most anticipated moments on the league’s calendar. Teams and fans fawn over top prospects and rave about picks even before that player steps on the field. While it often works out, the Philadelphia Eagles are already having regrets about their 2019 first-round selection only a year after drafting him.
When the Eagles selected offensive tackle Andre Dillard with the No. 22 overall pick, many praised the team for grabbing an excellent talent at a valuable position. Just a year after drafting him, the Eagles are now reportedly shopping Dillard around the league.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn, the Eagles dangled Dillard in trade talks to multiple teams in the weeks leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft. The decision came just months after Philadelphia parted ways with Jason Peters, a leader in their locker room who has been with the team since 2009. Many assumed the team made the move feeling extremely confident that Dillard would be ready to step in at left tackle next season, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
While many outside the organization liked Dillard, the confidence isn’t shared as strongly in Philadelphia. The Eagles have major concerns about Dillard, per PhillyVoice’s Jimmy Kempski, with some indication that the team is concerned the 24-year-old doesn’t have the mentality to play in Philadelphia.
During his rookie season, Dillard instigated a fight in August and it wasn’t even the first time he was involved in a fight at practice. Between his emotional episodes during his first year in the NFL and poor performances in limited snaps at both tackle spots, the Eagles seem to have some real concern for Dillard as a long-term solution at left tackle.
If the coaching staff and front office are already losing its patience with Dillard, it would make sense for the organization to cut its losses and trade him. Given the reports that are already out, though, the Eagles will certainly have to take a far lower pick in exchange for the player they spent a first-round pick on only a year ago.