A quick search online for "Andre Dillard" tells you everything you need to know about how things are going for the Eagles' last first-round pick.
Trade speculation, reasons to be concerned, comparing him to other draft picks — the noise and headlines surrounding Dillard are not pretty right now.
The question is how did it get to this point and where do the Eagles and Dillard go from here.
There is no denying that the speculation surrounding Dillard's future started at the NFL Combine. Whether intentional or not, both Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson's answers surrounding Dillard and the potential return of Jason Peters sparked speculation. Pederson said flatout that he wanted Peters back. Roseman stressed the importance of the offensive line and how having both Peters and Dillard was a good problem to have.
The idea that the Eagles could bring back Peters is very real and if it does happen, it will very much have to do with their hesitation about Dillard.
Peters played at a high level last season while staying (for the most part) healthy. Penalties remained an issue, but for some context, there were seven other starting tackles in the NFL who were flagged more than Peters was. For all of his minor flaws, Peters was one of the best tackles in the NFL last season when it came to protecting the quarterback, which for the Carson-Wentz driven Eagles, is the most important quality in a tackle.
There is also the emotional pull Peters has over the franchise. Often that pull is viewed as being over the front office and ownership. There is truth to that. Not to be overlooked, however, is the pull Peters has in the Eagles locker room and with his fellow offensive linemen, especially compared to Dillard. Peters is the personality of the Eagles' offensive line, and his almost perfect combination of toughness and compassion has been a driving force in the locker room since he arrived, but especially over the last few seasons.
Dillard, on the other hand, is young. He deserves time to grow both as a player and person, but right now he is no Peters — on-or-off the field. That reality is going to play a factor in the Eagles' decision when it comes to whether they are ready to remove Peters from the field and the locker room, inserting Dillard in his place, and tasking him with the critical job of protecting Wentz's blindside.
The idea of the Eagles trading Dillard if Peters does come back feels like a stretch. Trading Dillard would not only offer no cap relief for the Eagles, but it would decrease their cap space by around $5 million. There is also the reality that there is no way they will get equal value back for Dillard, who was 22nd overall pick just one year ago. The Eagles would have to acquire a first-and-fourth round pick to make up for the selection of Dillard and in a tackle-heavy draft that won't he happening.
Despite the rough headlines, Dillard shouldn't be written off. When he was on the field, his first year was neither overly positive or negative. It is hard for any player to be pulled in-and-out of the lineup and play consistently, but that is especially true for rookies along the offensive line. With the potential of a full offseason ahead, and the starting left job being his, the Eagles should get a true look at what kind of player Dillard is next season.
Still, one year ago, it is hard to imagine the team envisioned things being where they are now with Dillard.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
