Nothing in the NFL is definitive in May. Especially this offseason.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, however, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson gave perhaps the strongest endorsement yet this offseason for Andre Dillard, not Jason Peters, being the Eagles' starting left tackle in 2020.
"We've always said we would stay in touch with him during the offseason and we have," Pederson said of Peters. "Jason Peters is a tremendous, not only football player, but he's a tremendous Philadelphia Eagle. I got a lot of respect for a guy like Jason Peters to play that left tackle position for so many years at a high level. I have a lot of respect for his game and what he has accomplished in his career. But as we move forward, Andre Dillard was the player that we drafted to be that left tackle for us. Andre, late last year kind of propels him into this offseason where he has taken command of that role. We have a ton of confidence and I have a ton of confidence in Andre Dillard playing left tackle spot."
To say Dillard's rookie year with the Eagles has been a rocky one would be an understatement. Drafted in the first round in 2019, Dillard was viewed as the team's left tackle of the future. A rocky training camp followed by an up-and-down season in his limited playing time has lead to plenty of speculation this offseason that not only might the Eagles bring Jason Peters back, but that they might be open to trading Dillard.
Pederson, however, didn't sound like a head coach that planned on trading Dillard. He sounded like one that planned on starting him.
"This is why we drafted Andre Dillard. If you look at his skill set and what he brings to our offense and what he brings the to Philadelphia Eagles, it fits right in line with everything that (offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland) talks about, teaches, preaches about and what we are as an offense," Pederson said. "We know, and he understands, that strength is a big part of playing offensive line. But that's something that can be worked on in the offseason and that's what he's doing right now."
Strength was an issue for Dillard in 2019, something both the rookie, Pederson and even some of his teammates along the offensive line have noted. That was expected, however, as strength was considered a weakness of Dillard's coming out of college.
Even with a very different offseason than usual, Pederson seems confident they can get Dillard ready to play in time for Week 1.
"Moving forward, I got a ton of confidence in Andre," Pederson said. "I look forward to getting him back and getting him in the huddle and on the grass. Our quarterback has a ton of confidence in him and that's how we're proceeding moving forward."
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
