The Green Bay Packers pulled the trigger a little quicker on a player the Kansas City Chiefs were interested in. The Packers signed an offensive tackle to help them replace star left tackle David Bakhtiari after the team cut him this offseason.
The Packers have Rasheed Walker penciled in at left tackle and Zach Tom at right tackle for the upcoming season. However, the Packers view Tom as a significantly better center than tackle. The team made an important move by adding an offensive tackle that could allow the Packers to move Tom to the center.
The Green Bay Packers signed an OT
According to a statement by the Packers, the team signed former Philadelphia Eagles 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard:
“The 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle has played in 59 games (19 starts) over five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans…
Dillard, 28, was selected 22nd overall, one spot after the Packers drafted Darnell Savage. He was the first offensive lineman the Eagles drafted in the first round since Lane Johnson in 2013.
Andre Dillard has dealt with injuries
Dillard, a standout in college for Washington State, has a lot of talent. However, he’s had a bum deal with injuries:
“He made four spot starts (three at left tackle and one at right tackle) while playing in all 16 game his rookie season. Dillard was expected to start at left tackle in 2020 but missed the entire season with a biceps injury.
Dillard played in 27 games over next two seasons, including five starts at left tackle, but also missed seven games due to a two-week stint on the COVID-19 reserve list and a broken forearm during training camp in 2022 that landed him on injured reserve to start the season.
Dillard’s final game for Philadelphia came in a five-snap appearance on special teams during the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII.”
Dillard made a career-high ten starts with the Tennessee Titans last year.
The Kansas City Chiefs need OT help
The Chiefs were interested in bringing Dillard’s talents to Kansas City. The Chiefs have not re-signed left tackle Donovan Smith, who played with the team on a one-year contract for the 2023 season.
Per Jeremy Fowler with ESPN, Dillard visited with the Chiefs before signing with the Packers.
The Chiefs were probably going to look to the draft for help at offensive tackle, regardless of if they could sign Dillard. However, Dillard would have provided the necessary depth for the Chiefs. The Chiefs have several needs to consider taking in the draft, especially at wide receiver, and any signings at premiums before next Thursday would help with flexibility before selecting.
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