Packers sign former first-round tackle before the draft

The Green Bay Packers have added some depth to the offensive line. On Thursday, the team signed former first-round pick offensive tackle Andre Dillard.

Dillard was the 22nd overall pick in 2019 by the Philadelphia Eagles. Last season, he played for the Tennessee Titans.

Despite being a first-round pick, Andre Dillard never established himself as a starter for the Eagles. He started just nine games in Philly over four seasons. Last offseason, he signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, where he started ten games at left tackle.

However, he was released after one year. As Dillard was released from his previous contract, the signing doesn't affect the Packers' compensatory pick formula for 2025 — the team is slated to receive a seventh-round pick for losing fellow offensive tackle Yosh Nijman in free agency.

Why they made the move

The Packers have a significant issue at offensive line depth. This offseason, they were forced to release David Bakhtiari and lost tackle Yosh Nijman and starting right guard Jon Runyan in free agency.

As a consequence, the depth is thin. Right now, the only backup offensive tackles on the roster are Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, and Kadeem Telfort. On the interior, the situation is even dicier, with Sean Rhyan expected to start at right guard, and the only backup option was Royce Newman.

Versatility and performance

Throughout his NFL career, Dillard has showed some versatility, playing at both tackle and guard spots.

• Left tackle - 1,179
• Left guard - 22
• Right guard - 11
• Right tackle - 34
• Sixth lineman - 29

However, Andre Dillard has failed to play at a high level. According to PFF, his best season was in 2021, when he had a 69.6 overall grade. In 2022, he had most of his snaps at guard and got a good 84.7 pass block grade in the interior.

Last year, with the Titans, Dillard played all his snaps at left tackle, finishing with a poor 51.0 overall grade and 47.4 pass block grade.