2019 NFL Draft: 10 potential surprise first round picks

This draft is lacking in a lot of pure-tackle prospects, which could open the door for a guy like Washington State’s Andre Dillard to make a move toward the first round.

Many think Alabama’s Jonah Williams will be better suited as a guard at the next level; Oklahoma’s Cody Ford and Kansas State’s Dalton Risner are expected to also transition inside in the NFL.

After Ole Miss’ Greg Little and probably Florida’s Jawaan Taylor, the door is open for a tackle prospect to leap up draft boards and find himself in consideration for a late first round pick. There are several teams with needs at the position who will be picking near the end of the first round, including the Packers, Rams, and Patriots.

Dillard had some question marks surrounding him after playing in an air-raid scheme during his time in Pullman, but he answered those emphatically with a dominant display in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. The Wazzu product was unsurprisingly strong as a pass blocker, but also showed an ability to open up holes for the running game, something he was rarely asked to do in Mike Leach’s offense.

Dillard’s pass-pro experience makes him a coveted prospect due to the increasingly pass-happy movement of the NFL.

Dillard is far from a polished product and might not be a day-one starter at tackle, but proper coaching to help him clean up some deficiencies in his technique could lead to him being a Pro Bowl caliber player down the line.

Dillard isn’t likely to fall much further than the early second round range, but if he continues to impress as scouts pull out their fine-tooth combs, he could very well be a first round pick in April.