Eagles' Jordan Mailata gets contract worth up to $80 million; what does that mean for Andre Dillard's future?

The Eagles signed left tackle Jordan Mailata to a 4-year contact Saturday, most likely ensuring that he will be the starter not only for this season, but for the long-term future as well.

ESPN reported that Mailata's new contract is worth $64 million with $40 million guaranteed. ESPN also reported the contract could end up being worth as much as $80 million with incentives.

For Mailata, it’s a remarkable feat considering that he was picked in the seventh round of the 2018 draft even though the former Australian rugby star had never played organized football before.

Mailata beat out Andre Dillard, their first-round pick in 2019, for the starting job in training camp. It was another remarkable feat considering that Dillard was seen as the heir apparent to future Hall of Famer Jason Peters.

Instead, Dillard’s future is either as a backup to Mailata, or on another team. When Dillard was drafted, Mailata, listed at 6-foot-8, 365 pounds, was considered a project.

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The Eagles have to decide after this season whether to pick up Dillard's fifth-year option for 2023, which would likely be worth more than $10 million. After Mailata's signing, that's unlikely.

Mailata is entering the final season of his rookie contract, worth $850,000. His new deal takes him through the 2025 season.

Dillard, who started three games as a rookie in place of Peters, was expected to take over for Peters in 2020. The Eagles had let Peters leave as a free agent that spring, but brought him back a few months later as a right guard in place of Brandon Brooks.

But a torn biceps muscle in late August, 2020 ended Dillard’s season before it began. So Peters moved back to left tackle. Peters, however, suffered an injury early in the 2020 season, and Mailata, who had never played in an NFL game through his first two seasons, replaced Peters.

Mailata ended up starting 9 games at left tackle last season, with admittedly mixed results.

This season, new head coach Nick Sirianni said it would be an open competition for the starting job between Mailata and Dillard.

The two alternated each day with the first team through the first two weeks of training camp. But it was clear that Mailata had played better.

Then Dillard hurt his knee and missed two weeks. 

When Dillard returned the week of the Eagles’ final preseason game, Sirianni still wouldn’t name Mailata the starter, saying, “That's one that still needs to play itself out."

It didn't take much longer. Mailata continued to work with the starters, and the next week, Sirianni named him the starter heading into the season opener Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. 

As for Dillard, it’s possible that the Eagles will try to trade him, either by the deadline at the end of October or during the off-season, with the hopes of getting a draft pick in return.

Or they could keep him as a backup. Either way, the competition is over and Mailata has won. The Eagles made that official with the new contact.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.