Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has announced the signing of offensive tackle Andre Dillard. An article on the Packers’ official website states that he will wear jersey number 73.
After becoming a 2018 First Team All-Pac-12 member for the Washington State Cougars, the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. While he played in all 16 regular-season games during his rookie campaign, he missed the entire 2020 season due to a torn biceps.
#Packers sign T Andre Dillard.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 18, 2024
https://t.co/Ar0NdgE31k#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/kADFhoQ7K6
In 2021, he competed for the starting left tackle role with Jordan Mailata and became the backup. However, he started four games when Lane Johnson suffered an injury.
Dillard played in only 12 games during the 2022 season. Worse yet, the Eagles declined his fifth-year option, making him a free agent at the end of the season. He signed a three-year, $29 million contract with the Tennessee Titans but was released during the 2024 offseason.
Andre Dillard started 19 of his 59 career games. He will join a Packers roster with young but talented offensive tackles like Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom, Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort, and Caleb Jones.
Despite this signing, the Packers will likely select additional offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s a glaring position of need after their wide receivers and tight ends played impressively last season, especially during their Wild Card Round victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay addressed their running back rotation by signing Josh Jacobs to a four-year, $48 million contract.
-Lance Fernandez