49ers 2019 NFL Draft prospect profile: Offensive tackle Andre Dillard

The San Francisco 49ers could end up using yet another high pick in the NFL Draft to grab an offensive lineman, perhaps someone like Washington State’s Andre Dillard.

The idea of the San Francisco 49ers using yet another early pick on their offensive line in the NFL Draft could seem somewhat absurd, especially after selecting offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall a year ago.

That said, the McGlinchey pick was something of a shocker, especially since the Niners already had two starting bookends along the O-line in Joe Staley and Trent Brown.

Brown was shipped off, of course, and that won’t happen with Staley entering 2019. But with the veteran turning 35 years old before the regular season begins and in the final year of his current contract, it’s impossible to rule out the idea of San Francisco repeating this action again.

One possible move would be for the 49ers to look at Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard.

Dillard’s NFL Draft stock skyrocketed with an impressive performance during the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, perhaps earning himself first-round status. The Niners won’t make Dillard a top-three selection, of course. But if he slips, which isn’t uncommon for offensive linemen, perhaps a Round 2 shot is a possibility.

If that’s the case, what kind of player would San Francisco be getting?

Andre Dillard’s Strengths

Dillard moves exceptionally well for a player standing at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, running a sub-5.0 40-yard time at the combine — excellent for an O-lineman.

Movement skills are key for zone-style blocking schemes, and Dillard fits this description perfectly. His lateral movement is, perhaps, tops among all linemen in this year’s class, and it’s hard to find anything wrong with his footwork.

On top of that, Dillard showcased some solid scheme understanding and seems to thrive in complex blocking situations. He’s also well versed enough in both pass protection and run blocking, although the former seems to be more of a strength at this point.

Andre Dillard’s Weaknesses

As noted, Dillard could use a bit of polish in run support. He has some difficulty working against tougher, meaner defenders as well, which has likely led to him earning a bit of a reputation for being “soft” against nastier defenses.

Like many a prospective offensive lineman, Dillard could stand to play with a bit more leverage in his initial stance, getting his pads lower and trying to work through defenders instead of trying to “out-technique” them.

At times, Dillard can get into trouble properly executing zone-style blocks, pinning his man into rushing lanes and not towards one of the sidelines to create holes.

Potential Fit with the 49ers

Dillard enjoyed four solid years at Washington State locking down the left side of the offensive line. His lateral movement skills and speed suggest he’d be a seamless fit to operate head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone technique, adequately performing bootlegs and misdirections made popular in the Niners’ blocking scheme.

Plus, one could argue pass protection is more important on the left side of San Francisco’s O-line anyway, which could put Dillard into consideration as a potential long-term replacement for Staley.

The Niners ideally would like to bump McGlinchey over to Staley’s spot at some point down the line. But if Dillard winds up being the pick in, let’s say Round 2, it’s just as possible McGlinchey stays put with Dillard being groomed for an NFL starter’s role on the left side.

San Francisco has bigger needs, yes. Then again, they had other needs aside from McGlinchey last year, too.

Don’t bet on this selection happening. But it wouldn’t be a massive shock, either.