Flashback to the day after the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft through the end of the 2019 preseason.
The Houston Texans blew the draft by letting OT Andre Dillard go to the Philadelphia Eagles. Though they addressed offensive tackle with Alabama State’s Tytus Howard in the first round, he was their worst pick of the draft. The Eagles just snatched Dillard away from the Texans. Philly just stole Dillard from Houston. When they traded for Miami Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was an over correction for mucking things up in trying to land Dillard.
Flash forward to the 2020 offseason, and Eagles believe Dillard isn’t as physically and mentally strong as they would like after a year in the NFL.
According to Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, because of Dillard’s incomplete progress, the club may consider bringing back 38-year-old Jason Peters for his 17th NFL season as the Eagles’ left tackle.
Another year with Peters would allow Dillard to watch and learn and likely play enough to continue his development. He hasn’t made as much progress as the Eagles had hoped when they moved up to draft him in the first round last year. Dillard needs to get stronger, both physically and mentally.
Eagles coaches still believe in Dillard. He has the necessary athleticism. But bringing Peters back, despite the message it would send about Dillard’s future, would give the 24-year-old some additional time in an NFL culture he struggled to adapt to as a rookie.
Ideally, Dillard would have made it obvious that it was time to move on from Peters. He did not. And what can’t be underplayed is the role owner Jeffrey Lurie will play in deciding a future Hall of Famer’s future. He is Peters’ greatest advocate.
Meanwhile Howard, who only played in eight games his rookie season and started in seven of them at right tackle, made the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team. Not bad for the worst pick of the Texans’ draft class.
Ultimately, it is too early to declare either 2019 first-rounder a winner, though certainly Howard is winning. Presuming Dillard is able to take the next steps in his career in 2020, the only question mark for Howard would be his health given that he did miss eight games and was placed on injured reserve in Week 13.
