The Green Bay Packers are 5-2, but that might not stop them from selling offensive tackle Andre Dillard at the trade deadline. A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to ensure they landed the Washington State product. That decision didn’t work out, as Dillard never reached his potential with Philadelphia. The offensive tackle made just nine starts during his four years with the team before signing with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. While he earned a starting role, Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the league’s worst offensive tackles.
Now a member of the Green Bay Packers, Dillard spent the season in a reserve role behind the reliable duo of Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker. Seeing as he’s only dressed for three games, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes teams could try and trade for the veteran, and the Packers could take whatever they can get for his services. While he won’t net a large return, desperate teams like the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs could decide he’s worth a conditional late-round pick.
Packers Could Trade Andre Dillard to Saints, Chiefs
The past five weeks have been especially difficult for the New Orleans Saints. After starting the season with two dominant wins, the team dropped five straight games while battling an absurd amount of injuries. New Orleans entered the season with a weak offensive line and lost almost all their starters over the past five weeks. While the team’s current record means they probably won’t make a trade for a premier player, head coach Dennis Allen will probably lose his job if the team can’t make a strong second-half run. With this in mind, Andre Dillard could be the perfect trade target for a team desperate for offensive linemen.
First-round pick Taliese Fuaga is playing up to his reputation, but right tackle Trevor Penning remains an active liability. As of this posting, the former first-round pick ranks 60th out of 76 eligible tackles in PFF grade, which isn’t good enough to support Derek Carr or fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler. Andre Dillard could provide some competition at right tackle, and the loser of this battle could shift to guard as a last-ditch effort to salvage this offensive line.
Saving Patrick Mahomes
Despite their 6-0 record, the Kansas City Chiefs have some serious concerns to address on the offensive side of the ball. Patrick Mahomes has not played well this season, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns while ranking near the middle of the pack in EPA/play and ESPN’s QBR. While most of the attention falls on his depleted wide receiver core, you can’t overlook the importance of the left tackle position. Wanya Morris is an unremarkable journeyman, while second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia has struggled in limited playing time. While nobody should give up on the rookie’s future, the Chiefs should consider an Andre Dillard trade as a short-term option.
Kansas City has the NFL’s best interior offensive line, but their tackle situation is concerning. Jawaan Taylor’s contract makes him impossible to bench, but the same is not true of Morris. Maybe Andre Dillard can’t beat out the veteran, but a conditional trade with playtime incentives is well worth the risk. Green Bay would probably take just about anything for his services, so why not send a sixth-round pick for Dillard and a seventh-round pick?
Main Photo: Tork Mason – USA Today Sports
