Browse the rest of the Zone Coverage Draft Guide.

TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL (PODCASTS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES)
INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION

Everybody’s looking for left tackles, which could make Andre Dillard very popular in this draft. After a mediocre, penalty-prone sophomore campaign, turned a corner as a junior and became a reliable pass-blocker in Mike Leach’s pass-first offense that chucked it over 50 times per game. Named first-team All-Pac 12 and third-team All-American as a senior. Since he’s not coming from a pro style offense, teams could be wary of the scheme fit, but with the mobility and explosiveness he showed at the combine while carrying 315 pounds, Dillard’s athleticism should convince several teams he’s worth a shot.

Size

6-5, 315 pounds

Combine notables

40-yard dash: 4.96 seconds (4^th at position)
Bench: 24 reps
Vertical: 29 inches
Broad jump: 118 inches (1^st at position)
3-cone drill: 7.44 seconds (2^nd at position)

What the analysts say

“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.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Dillard’s foot speed, length, lack of functional strength and ability to win on the move make him an ideal candidate to play tackle in an inside/outside zone running scheme. Dillard enters the NFL with a ton of experience but unfortunately the Washington State scheme translates poorly to what he’ll be asked to at the next level and his learning curve is fairly steep considering the new techniques he will have to learn. I like his ceiling, particularly in pass protection, but he’s more of a developmental prospect than his physical upside and resume suggest.” – Joe Marino, The Draft Network

What PFF says

-7^th in pass-blocking efficiency
-1 sack allowed in 722 snaps last year
-12^th in snaps per outside pressure allowed

—

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE
ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE

TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL (PODCASTS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES)
INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION

Sam Ekstrom

Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.

All Articles