Another year, another one-year contract extension for Eagles left tackle Jason Peters.
Now 37 years old, Peters is somehow still playing at one of the most physical positions in the NFL. He’s carved out a very respectable career with the Eagles; at times, he was dominant. But last year, Peters’ Pro Football Focus grade dropped from 84.2 to 69.5, and he allowed 38 pressures – not a bad number, but his worst since 2013.
At 37 years old, Peters is surely on the decline, and the Eagles need to make sure they aren’t caught by surprise when their stalwart left tackle suddenly isn’t so stalwart anymore. By drafting a high-potential tackle prospect to groom for a year, they can ensure that any transition will be seamless.
For their specific tackle needs, Andre Dillard matches well with the Eagles. He needs to work on improving his functional strength, but he checks all the boxes athletically. He has the length to clamp down on rushers, and the mobility to stay with them step for step. Dillard needs to sit for a year and learn how to best assert his power and leverage, but in Philadelphia, he’ll be able to do just that, learning from Jason Peters himself. It’s a perfect situation for a developmental prospect with very high upside.