3 contract decisions that will pay off for the Tennessee Titans in 2023
- Cutting Taylor Lewan was the right decision
- Andre Dillard should thrive in a fresh start with the Titans
- Jeffery Simmons will be the man for years to come
No. 2 Titans contract decision that will pay off: Andre Dillard's 3-year, 30M deal
It's fair to say that Andre Dillard underachieved during his four-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. A first-round pick in 2019, Dillard was expected to be Philly's left tackle of the future but wasn't up to the task. He struggled as a rookie and missed the 2020 season with an arm injury. By Year 3, he was phased out in favor of Jordan Mailata. Not surprisingly, the Eagles opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal and let him walk when his contract expired.
The Titans swooped in and gave the former Washington State Cougar a three-year deal worth $30 million in free agency. At first sight, it may seem like the top brass overpaid for Dillard but the truth is that the signing has the potential to pay big dividends. In Tennessee, Dillard gets a fresh start. For whatever reason, he wasn't able to put it all together in the City of Brotherly Love but he could most definitely benefit from a fresh start.
If Dillard does hit his stride, his signing will be praised. Another thing he's got going in his favor is that he can play multiple positions across the offensive line. While he's expected to line up at left tackle, he could move to the right side while Nicholas Petit-Frere serves a suspension for betting on football games.
That flexibility gives the Titans' coaching staff options up front and given the fact that their offensive line is undergoing a transition, it could certainly come in handy as the season progresses.