NFL Draft: Eagles Trade Up, Select Andre Dillard In First Round

The Eagles selected offensive lineman Andre Dillard after trading up in the first round of Thursday night's NFL Draft.

Washington State's Dillard, 23, stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 315 pounds, and brings a formidable young presence to the Eagles line.

The Birds picked Dillard 22nd overall after trading their 25th pick to the Baltimore Ravens, who received Philadelphia's fourth round (125th overall) and sixth round (197th overall) picks in return.

Experts had predicted the Eagles would take a defensive back, identifying Byron Murphy and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson as two top possibilities. Both were available at 22 when the Eagles took Dillard instead.

The choice to strengthen their offensive line will add more protection for Carson Wentz, and is clearly a move designed at least in part to keep the injury-plagued franchise quarterback healthy.

The selection is widely seen as a way for the Eagles to replace veteran Jason Peters, who is 37 and likely nearing the end of his career.

Some scouts see Dillard as having a very high ceiling, as he came ranked as high as 7th overall on at least one top prospects draft list.

Quarterback Kyler Murray was selected first overall in the draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles division rival New York Giants picked a possible heir for Eli Manning, nabbing Duke quarterback Daniel Jones sixth overall. The Washington Redskins also selected a quarterback: Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, 15th overall.

>>NFL Draft 2019: Philadelphia Eagles Pick, How To Watch, Odds

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Backup quarterback is another area of need for the Eagles, who have several picks left. Assuming no further trades, the Eagles will pick 53rd (from Baltimore) and 57th in Round 2, 138th in Round 4, and 163rd in Round 5.

Rounds 2 and 3 begin Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday at noon.

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