In a spiffy maroon suit with a Washington State lapel pin fastened to the left side of his chest, Andre Dillard walked up to the stage in Nashville, Tennessee, cordially greeted Commissioner Roger Goodell with a handshake, slipped the Philadelphia Eagles hat over his head and posed with the midnight green jersey he’ll be wearing this fall. The 2018 Cougars aren’t done making history. Not just yet. Not until the Eagles selected Dillard with the 22nd overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft had a Washington State offensive lineman been selected in the first round of an event that’s going on its 83rd year of existence. But Dillard, once a 240-pound offensive line recruit whose only offers came from WSU and a few regional Big Sky schools, got his moment almost three hours into this draft, embracing mother Jennifer Bollinger in the “green room” and fist-bumping Cougars O-line coach Mason Miller before he started down the runway to the draft stage. Once he got there, Dillard proudly flashed three fingers in the air, a tribute to former teammate Tyler Hilinski, the WSU QB who wore No. 3 for the Cougars before committing suicide last January. Grabbing Dillard must have been a high priority for Philadelphia, because the Eagles traded with the Baltimore Ravens to move up three positions in the first round. They snatched the Woodinville, Washington, native right before Houston, another team eyeballing Dillard, made its pick at No. 23. “I was feeling every emotion in the book,” Dillard told ESPN host Suzy Kolber. “I was anxious; I had to keep standing up. It was such an amazing moment to share with everybody. I’m speechless right now.” He had to wait longer than some anticipated, but it had been all but guaranteed Dillard would end a long drought for WSU when the left tackle received one of the 23 phone calls made by the NFL earlier this month, inviting Dillard and 22 other elite prospects to Nashville. Not since quarterback Ryan Leaf in 1998 has a WSU player been given that opportunity, and the NFL typically only invites players projected to be taken off the board on the first day. The Cougars hadn’t managed to place an offensive lineman in the first round, but putting them in the draft hasn’t been a problem and Dillard’s selection keeps a recent fad going. WSU has had an offensive lineman snapped up in three of the last four drafts, and Dillard joins former teammate Cole Madison, taken by Green Bay in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, and Joe Dahl, a 2016 draftee of the Detroit Lions who was one of the first that showed Dillard how to pass-protect in the Air Raid when he got to Pullman in 2014. “We’re excited for him, and he’s a good quality player and has worked hard for it,” WSU coach Mike Leach said of Dillard earlier this week. “Went from being a pretty nonrecruited guy by most teams to where he’s at now, so yeah, I think it’s been a pretty impressive path.” Dillard has scaled up mock draft boards over the last four months, piecing together a strong week at the Senior Bowl in January, posting some of the best marks by an offensive lineman at the scouting combine in February and cementing his predraft process with an impressive showing at WSU’s Pro Day, where he performed positional drills for 28 NFL teams, including Philadelphia. “I’m so happy for him. It’s been a great ride with him,” said WSU junior Liam Ryan, who’s expected to replace Dillard at left tackle this fall. “Three years and I just enjoyed every single moment with him. … I’m just so excited for him and his family because he’s worked so hard to get where he’s at right now. “Whatever team picks him, they’re a lucky team. They’ve got a guy.” Dillard showed an expert-level understanding of the pass protection schemes required in Leach’s Air Raid, sealing off the left side of an offensive line that allowed only 13 sacks in 13 games last season. Dillard was an Associated Press third-team All-American and All-Pac-12 first-teamer as a senior and finished with 39 consecutive starts at left tackle. In the on-stage interview, Kolber alluded to Dillard’s gentle personality away from the field, which is contrary to his violent blocking style on it. “GMs tell me that you’re one of the nicest guys in the draft, but man you are nasty on the field,” Kolber said. “How do you turn that on?” “I know what I’ve got to do when I’ve got to do it,” Dillard responded. “Off the field, I just like being someone people like to be around, but when I’m on the field, I know I’ve got to do my job.” In Leach’s patented Air Raid, that usually meant shielding a quarterback who was going to air it out between 40-60 times per game. But what will be asked of Dillard should change – at least somewhat – at the next level, as he adapts to more run-oriented, pro style-driven league. It could explain why Dillard fell below three other offensive linemen and one other tackle: Alabama’s Jonah Williams. “Obviously, he’s going to have to be multidimensional and move defenders off the line,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said on Thursday’s broadcast. “He doesn’t have great arm length for a left tackle compared to Jonah Williams of Alabama, longer than Andre Dillard’s. But here’s a guy that’s proven he has good feet.” Dillard’s No. 1 priority with the Eagles will be to keep the club’s franchise quarterback upright, something Philly’s offensive line hasn’t been able to do successfully or consistently the past two seasons. Carson Wentz’s 2017 season was shortened by an ACL tear, though the Eagles managed with backup Nick Foles, beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Wentz’s injury caused him to miss the first two games of the 2018 regular season, and though he’d return to play in 11 games, Philadelphia’s No. 1 suffered a back injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Jason Peters, considered a future Hall of Famer, occupies the left tackle spot for the Eagles, but he’s also aging quickly at 37 years old. Dillard is thought to be his heir apparent in Philly, or someone who could fill the position immediately. “As much as pass protection is his forte, there were some games where you watched, and the Senior Bowl in particular, he got whipped with power, he got whipped with speed,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said. “He has some technique deficiencies. They’re going to have really coach him up. … His upside is spectacular. They’re just going to have to do some work with him.”<doc-sep>With the 22nd pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State. They traded up with the Baltimore Ravens from pick No. 25 to land their guy. The cost to move up was a fourth-round pick (127) and and sixth-round pick (197). Dillard is a classic pass-protecting offensive tackle. He will be the heir-apparent to Jason Peters at left tackle. The Eagles' depth chart at offensive tackle currently looks like this: 1 2 3 LT Jason Peters Andre Dillard Jordan Mailata RT Lane Johnson Halapoulivaati Vaitai Matt Pryor The decision to bring Peters back for one last season was a debatable one, but one that allowed the Eagles to avoid a severe need this offseason at offensive tackle. And then... they traded to get one anyway. Positional importance was at play here, as was long-term thinking. The Eagles value the trenches, and certainly, Carson Wentz is a quarterback worth protecting. By selecting Dillard, the Eagles have a player who can start in 2020 and beyond. He just won't help right away, barring injury, which is very possible in Peters' case. There was some thinking that size-athleticism freak Jordan Mailata could develop and maybe succeed Peters at left tackle. That does not appear to be the course after this move. Here's Dillard's game vs. Washington this season: He has excellent athletic measurables, as noted here: A scouting report, via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com: Talented four-year starter at left tackle with outstanding feet who offers an instant athletic upgrade for teams getting battered from the blind-side. Because of his scheme, Dillard will be a little behind in terms of his feel for set points and firing off the ball in the run game. While he could play with a little more ferocity as a finisher, he has the athletic ability to make all the blocks and the protection talent to become a good, early starter on the left side. In his post-pick press conference, Howie Roseman said that Dillard was a top 10 player on their board. Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | @thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports Add Jimmy's RSS feed to your feed reader<doc-sep>Howie Roseman, man. Always up to something. The Eagles traded up three spots with the Baltimore Ravens tonight to select Washington State offensive tackle Andre Dillard. First, the price the Eagles paid to move up: This is #Eagles trade. Pick 25 and 127 and 197 for 22 to Baltimore. @SportsRadioWIP — Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) April 26, 2019 Specifically, they needed to jump the Houston Texans in order to grab Dillard, who is now the Eagles’ left tackle of the future. The Texans, meanwhile, drafted Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard with the 23rd pick. He may not be the flashy offensive weapon that many fans were hoping for, but the pick makes sense. Jason Peters will be 38 years old this season, and it’s highly unlikely given his recent inability to stay on the field for prolonged stretches that he will suddenly bounce back and become consistently available. As for Dillard, specifically, I can’t say I spent my last two months watching his tape, but check out this Pro Football Focus YouTube breakdown after the jump, because if you know anything at all about the NFL Draft, you know that YouTube is the place to go in order to find out how good a college player truly is. The Eagles are currently slated to pick again with the 53rd overall selection tomorrow night. Maybe.<doc-sep>
He didn’t come off the board quite as quickly as a lot of people thought he would, but Andre Dillard’s dream of being a professional football player finally came true when the Philadelphia Eagles selected the Washington State Cougars offensive lineman with the 22nd pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. You better believe Dillard soaked it all in. Let’s relive it via the magic of Twitter. First, he started the night with a shoutout to all of us. A few hours later, this finally happened. As Dillard came out on stage, he had a touching tribute to his friend and teammate, Tyler Hilinski: As you might imagine, he was rather relieved to finally be out of that green room. #WSU’s Andre Dillard, of being drafted by Philly: “I was feeling every emotion in the book. I was anxious, I had to keep standing up. It was such an amazing moment to share with everybody. I’m speechless right now.” pic.twitter.com/4Y4XEHsZVo — Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) April 26, 2019 Didn’t take him long to find some new friends. And he had a message for Eagles fans. And he had a post-draft message for everyone, including Coug fans. Former @WSUCougarFB left tackle Andre Dillard (@AndreDillard_) on representing the @pac12 and Washington State in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/wXHCO57s29 — Karthik Venkataraman (@KREMKarthik) April 26, 2019 The Eagles, for their part, appear to be pretty excited about having landed Dillard. The team’s top executive, Howie Roseman, said, “This is a guy we had ranked as one of the top 10 players in the draft. This was the best tackle in the draft.” Here are the full remarks: And analysis from the team’s commentators. Everyone seems pretty happy! NFL Draft continues tonight Two other players who probably will be drafted this weekend, Gardner Minshew II and James Williams, remained on the board as expected. The second and third rounds will take place tonight starting at 4 p.m. PT, with the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. PT. It would be pretty surprising if either of them came off the board tonight, but you never know! In the meantime, read this really cool story about Minshew from Theo Lawson at the Spokesman-Review. He traveled to Brandon, Mississippi, to put together nearly 6,000 words of crazy stories about our favorite quarterback. Brandon man: Gardner Minshew has a whole town behind him as NFL draft arrives | The Spokesman-Review Brandon, Mississippi, is supposed to be SEC country. So watching a school from the Pac-12 North infiltrate the pecking order last football season had to be unfamiliar and unprecedented – awkward and wholly gratifying – for the southern community of 23,000. Everything Else What They're Saying: Carson Wentz thrilled w/ Andre Dillard pick - Cougfan.com Pundits are giving Philly major props for drafting Coug as first Pac-12 player taken. NFL draft: Eagles trade up, select Andre Dillard with 22nd pick - Philly.com The offensive tackle out of Washington State will be tasked with keeping Carson Wentz safe. By choosing Andre Dillard, Eagles draft in the trenches but on Carson Wentz’s side | Jeff McLane - Philly.com Jason Peters won't play forever, and this is the first step toward preparing his replacement to protect the franchise QB. Eagles draft Andre Dillard: What the experts are saying about the Washington State offensive tackle - Philly.com The Eagles traded their fourth- and sixth-round picks to move up three spots for Dillard. Will it be worth it? NFL Draft 2019 Grades: Analysis of Every Team’s Round 1 Pick - Yahoo! Sports 22. Philadelphia Eagles (via Baltimore Ravens): T Andre Dillard - GRADE: B Don't call him Hollywood: NFL prospect James Williams proud of Toledo roots | Toledo Blade He is Hollywood shined, but Toledo made. Then & Now: Running with a good crowd | | lmtribune.com Black transcends tough environment, checkered past as Cougs’ newest star. This story originally ran Sept. 26, 1996, in the Lewiston Tribune. Cougars Complete Conference Championships - Washington State University Athletics The Pac-12 Championships come to an end for men's golf after three days of competition. Cougars Continue Road Stretch at No. 2 Oregon State - Washington State University Athletics The baseball series begins Friday in Corvallis. T&F Set to Host Cougar Invitational Saturday - Washington State University Athletics Schedule Changes Likely for Rowing’s Home Regatta - Washington State University Athletics An official announcement will be made Friday afternoon.