After debuting in the NFL for the first time, Philadelphia Eagles rookie Andre Dillard received a favorable grade from Bleacher Report.
Finally, at last — the wait is over. The Philadelphia Eagles kicked off their preseason against the Tennessee Titans and got a small sample size of the future. All five of their 2019 NFL Draft picks had the opportunity to play at The Linc for the first time against another NFL team.
Was it all perfect? Not exactly. Clearly, some guys looked better than others. And as for the final results — the Eagles took a beating from the Titans as the third and fourth stringers in Philly are definitely a bunch that would struggle big time with the starters.
While some of the draft picks had a quiet night, others played really well and shined. Fortunately, those who shined were one of three picks within the first two rounds. Anytime a high-end draft pick shows up and shows out; it’s a good day in the NFL.
Eagles first-round pick, Andre Dillard gave the people exactly what they wanted on Thursday. The former Washington State tackle was a draft selection that not many people in Philly expected, so Thursday was his introduction to those who didn’t know him. And boy, was it a good one.
Dillard passes his first test
It didn’t take long for fans to take notice. Dillard’s ability to keep pass rushers out of the backfield was something NFL scouts and publications were raving about. He did so much pass-blocking in college, so he eventually mastered his craft. And so far, his progress seemed flawless in a game.
Shortly after a handful of rookie NFL debut’s happened, Bleacher Report put together some individual grades for players who stood out — for better or for worse. Fortunately, the Eagles would be happy to know that their highest draft pick stood out for the good.
"“It’s not easy to evaluate an offensive lineman live in a preseason game, but the Thursday night reviews for Philadelphia Eagles rookie offensive tackle Andre Dillard are impossible to ignore. f he continues to perform the way he did against the Tennessee Titans in Philly’s preseason opener, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field.”“He looked confident, strong and flat-out unbeatable. Again, closer examination of said tape could reveal some areas that need improvement, but Dillard’s play was close to flawless on an initial review.”"
With an ‘A+’ grade, Dillard clearly impressed more than just the Philadelphia Eagles fan base. With keywords such as ‘unbeatable, strong, and confident’ Dillard clearly entered his first NFL game with a swagger that not a lot of rookies have. With a mentor like Jason Peters, coaches such as Jeff Stoutland and Doug Pederson, and some fierce competition — it comes as no surprise that Dillard looks as confident and strong as ever.