HCA: Andre Dillard set to be first WSU first round pick since Deone Bucannon

Quite possibly the greatest day of the year for football nerds is the first round of the NFL draft. Well today is the day and in addition to the Seahawks having two first round picks we get to root for a Cougar to picked. This is unfortunately not an every year occurrence as in the last twenty years only 3 WSU players have gone in the first round (Ryan Leaf, Marcus Trufant and Deone Bucannon). Dillard seems likely to go in the teens in the first round and may even make his way into the top ten as the best pass blocking tackle in the draft. Quite an accomplishment for a former 2 star recruit out of Woodinville.

Let’s take a look at where some of the NFL draft experts are guessing Dillard will land. I looked it up so you don’t have to. The 16^th pick and the Carolina Panthers seem to be the consensus destination with GM Marty Hurney personally attending Dillard’s pro Day. He looks to have a floor of No.23 and a ceiling of No.1 (?!!)

Pro Football Focus: 16. Carolina

Need and value match up well here, as the Panthers add one of the best pass protectors in the draft in Dillard. He has three straight years of 90-plus pass-blocking grades to go with plenty of experience in Washington State’s system.

Cris Collinsworth: 9. Buffalo

Evan Silva: 11. Cincinatti

Peter King: 17. Houston

PROJECTED TRADE: Houston sends 23rd and 55th picks to Giants for this choice.

No team in the NFL needs a radical upgrade at tackle as much as the Texans. Per Pro Football Focus,the starting Houston tackles last year, Julie’n Davenport and Kendall Lamm, allowed 101 quarterback disruptions (sacks, hits, hurries) on Deshaun Watson, which is downright abominable considering Watson’s one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league. Think how many pressures he avoided just by being Deshaun Watson. Dillard’s the top tackle on Houston’s board, from what I hear, and teams think he’s got a chance to be a good left tackle.

Tacoma News Tribune: 16. Carolina

The Panthers have made it known they are looking long and hard for tackles. Dillard is the most accomplished pass-blocking one in the draft. Then again, no one in college throws more than Mike Leach’s WSU Cougars.

Logan Frederickson: 9. Buffalo

NFL Nation: 12. Green Bay

NY Daily News: 16. Carolina

Athlon: 1. Arizona

ESPN: 23. Houston

The Ringer: 18. Minnesota

Good luck tonight Andre!

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