The Tennessee Titans made their first free-agent signing of the 2023 offseason on Monday when they agreed to terms with Andre Dillard.
The offensive tackle is inking a three-year, $29 million deal, but we don’t yet have the specifics of the contract, like guaranteed money, for example. That’s important because it’ll tell us just how locked-in to Dillard the Titans are.
While he has experience playing on the inside, also, Dillard figures to be at least a stopgap solution at left tackle for Tennessee. But, as I wrote in a separate article, I don’t think this precludes the Titans from taking a left tackle at No. 11 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Putting that aside for now, experts have already begun grading moves in free agency. Here’s a look at the marks they gave for the Titans’ signing of Dillard.
Shaun Calderon, Titans Wire: B
Overall, I really like this move, assuming it comes at a reasonable cost in terms of guaranteed money. It’s exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward signing this team should make.
Pro Football Focus: A/D
Fit/need grade: A
Value grade: D
Contract: Three years, $29 million ($9.67 million per year)
PFF projected contract: One year, $3.25 million, $2 million guaranteed
A first-round pick back in 2019, Dillard failed to nail down a starting spot on the Eagles offensive line. He played 677 snaps between 2019 and 2021 but played just 37 snaps this past season.
He showed that there might be something there in 2021, with Dillard not looking overwhelmed in five starts at left tackle, giving up a sack, a hit and 18 hurries from 250 pass-blocking snaps.
It’s hard to know what the market was like for Dillard, who obviously carried a first-round pedigree and found himself stuck behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL over his rookie contract. Still, this is a major payday for a guy with 714 career snaps despite his first-round status, with just 37 snaps in 2022.
The ability to play guard and tackle could be intriguing for a team that arguably could see new starters at every position on the offensive line going forward.
Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report: F
Given the myriad problems currently facing the Tennessee Titans (including a sizable hole on the offensive line after the release of Taylor Lewan), at first glance, agreeing to terms on a three-year, $29 million contract (per Garafolo) with Andre Dillard might seem like a good value. After all, Dillard is a former first-round pick who has experience at guard and tackle and played on the best offensive line in the league last year.
The problem is that Dillard “played” all of 37 offensive snaps last year—because he’s been either hurt or mediocre (at best) to this point.
First-round pick or not, Dillard hasn’t played 750 snaps for his career. After a rotational role as a rookie, a torn biceps wiped out his 2020 season. In 2021, he lost the competition to start at left tackle to Jordan Mailata. Last year, he barely saw the field, and when he did, it was mostly at guard.
Outside of his draft slot, Dillard has shown nothing to indicate he can even be an average NFL starter. The Titans apparently hope that a change of scenery will jump-start Dillard’s floundering career—and they are willing to gamble almost $10 million a season on it.
Hope is not a strategy.
Grade: F
Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated: C-
Dillard, a 2019 first-round pick, will get a fresh start after agreeing to a three-year, $29 million contract with the Titans, according to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
Dillard only appeared in 12 games and played only 37 offensive snaps with the Eagles last season. He struggled to find a spot on the Eagles’ loaded offensive line, but he’ll get a shot with the Titans, who recently released offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and appear to be rebuilding the offensive line. Tennessee is taking a gamble on a player who has struggled to earn playing time in four seasons.
Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: B
I never understood Philadelphia’s decision to draft Andre Dillard back in 2019. They had Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson in place as their tackles of the future, so Dillard didn’t seem to have a place with the Eagles. Dillard was able to make nine starts during his time in Philadelphia as a replacement for injured players, and he looked good when given the opportunity. Thus, it’s not a surprise that a team signed him to be a starter.
However, Titans supporters may become frustrated with Dillard’s durability. Tennessee just got rid of Taylor Lewan, who couldn’t stay healthy, and yet they signed a replacement who has a dubious injury history as well. That history is preventing me from going above a “B” for this grade.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: C-
This is a lot of money for desperation given Dillard disappointed with his durability and play as a one-time potential successor to Jason Peters.
