Jalen McKenzie

49ers To Bring In Nicholas Petit-Frere, Andre Dillard

By Sam Robinson | at May 9, 2025 3:03 pm

The Titans’ preferred 2023 tackle starters, Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere are making an interesting joint move. The one-time Tennessee first-string tackle duo is heading to San Francisco.

Despite signing D.J. Humphries after the draft, the 49ers will also bring in Dillard and Petit-Frere. Tennessee waived Petit-Frere before the draft; no team claimed him. Dillard, whom the Titans released after one season, played in Green Bay last year. Both will be tied to one-year deals.

This particular Titans tandem did not last long together. Petit-Frere, who had served as the team’s primary right tackle in 2022, missed the start of the 2023 season due to a gambling suspension. Upon return, Petit-Frere split time between RT and LT (as Dillard did not pan out). An injury early into his already-abbreviated season shut down the former third-round pick, keeping Dillard as Tennessee’s primary LT. The Titans, however, moved on from his three-year, $29MM contract after that season.

Last year, Dillard made his way to the Packers. The Chiefs had shown interest, but Dillard ended up in Green Bay as a backup. The former first-rounder played all of 13 offensive snaps for a Packers team that used Rasheed Walker as its starting LT and used a first-round pick on Jordan Morgan.

Dillard, whom the Eagles traded up for in 2019, has made 19 career starts. Most of them have come at left tackle. Humphries having an extensive injury history does open the door to the 29-year-old tackle potentially having a shot at the 49ers’ swing tackle gig. For now, he will vie for a depth role behind Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz.

Petit-Frere, 25, may be the more interesting Friday addition. While Dillard had fallen off the starter level in 2024, Petit-Frere logged 614 right tackle snaps for the Titans last season. The Ohio State product has made 28 career starts; almost all of them have come at RT. Pro Football Focus has never graded Petit-Frere outside the bottom quartile among tackles, slotting him 76th (among 81 regulars) at the position last year. But his experience is certainly notable, especially as McKivitz has not established himself as an upper-echelon option.

One season remains on McKivitz’s contract; he is entering his third season as San Francisco’s post-Mike McGlinchey option at right tackle. It would not seem Petit-Frere is a direct threat to that job, given the latter’s spotty track record. But the 49ers bringing him in this early in the offseason could bring a storyline to monitor due to the younger blocker’s age an experience.

In addition to the tackle moves (and their Drake Jackson cut), the 49ers waived offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie and waived cornerback Tre Tomlinson with an injury designation.