The Miami Dolphins have a few issues that need to be addressed this offseason, but arguably the most important is the performance at both offensive tackle spots.
Right tackle Jesse Davis and rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg were downright awful in 2021, as they were graded as the 80th and 81st-best tackles by Pro Football Focus. Those ratings just back up the play seen on the field that limited both the running and passing games severely.
Miami has gone to the draft multiple times in recent years with hopes of finding their franchise tackle, but that hasn’t happened yet. This may mean that the Dolphins could go into free agency or find a trade partner. One of the tackles who was rumored to be on the move at last year’s trade deadline and could be during this year’s offseason has been Philadelphia Eagles tackle Andre Dillard.
The Eagles drafted Dillard in the first round of the 2019 draft with the intention of having him replace Jason Peters in the future. However, torn biceps caused the tackle to miss all of his second season in 2020, opening up the competition between him and 2018 seventh-round pick Jordan Mailata.
After Mailata won the job, the Eagles awarded him a large contract extension, making Dillard expendable. With Mailata and Lane Johnson, the Eagles could move on from Dillard this offseason, and the Dolphins should at least check in on him.
As a former first-rounder, there’s still value there, and there’s a belief that Dillard can be a starting tackle for another team. It would probably cost a mid-round pick, and the team trading for him could have him locked up for two years if they make the deal and exercise his fifth-year option before the May 2 deadline. That option would pay him $11.6 million (projected) in 2023, according to Over the Cap.
Trading for the 26-year-old would essentially guarantee that Miami upgrades at least one of the tackle spots in 2022 and, potentially, 2023. They would still have their first-round pick to use this year or more of their available cap space if they want to replace both.
It might not be the best option, but it’s an option for general manager Chris Grier and whoever the team names as head coach.
