4 pros and cons to the Panthers potentially trading for Andre Dillard
By Dean Jones
Andre Dillard’s injury history
Much will depend on the compensation involved. But the Carolina Panthers would be taking a big gamble by bringing Andre Dillard on board this late in the preparation period.
There are obvious problems about Dillard’s production to obviously consider. However, perhaps the most concerning factor is the lineman’s recent injury problems.
Dillard missed the entire 2020 season with a torn bicep that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Not only this, the player’s progress during training camp was derailed with a knee sprain that is expected to keep him out of drills until next week at the earliest.
This is a potential problem if the Panthers are looking to go down this route. There remains some potential in Dillard providing no further complications emerge, but giving up valuable draft capital for someone that’s not been the most reliable from a health standpoint is a big-time risk.
After all, this is the reason why Russell Okung is no longer around.
The Pro Bowler actually performed well when he was in the lineup. However, injuries restricted Okung to just seven games in 2020 and ultimately led the Panthers to go in a different direction.
If Cam Erving doesn’t turn things around pretty drastically, Carolina has to make sure their next move is the right one. Judging by Dillard’s recent history, he might not be it.