On March 30, 2021, following Alabama's Pro Day, ESPN was conducting an interview and something – more like, someone – in the background forced the interview to come to a stop.

Landon Dickerson, Alabama's All-American center who was recovering from a knee injury suffered in the SEC Championship Game just three months earlier, did cartwheels across the field. A 6-foot-6, 332-pound lineman looking like Simone Biles? It's no wonder the camera panned to show Dickerson, who smiled and waived to all 32 NFL teams, knowing that he just showcased where he was at in his recovery without a workout.

When the Eagles, who had already selected Dickerson's teammate, Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith with the No. 10 overall pick, were back on the clock in the second round at No. 37, they knew Dickerson's value was simply too good to pass up, even coming off the injury.

"We think this is a special player and a special person, and we don't think that there is any chance that this guy would be available at the 37th pick without those concerns," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said on draft night of Dickerson, who lobbied to play one snap out of victory formation in the waning moments of the National Championship win over Ohio State. "When we think about what kind of player this guy can be and what kind of person this guy could be for our football team, it just was really exciting for us."

Well, the Eagles' process – from both a medical and scouting standpoint in a COVID year where information was more difficult to obtain – paid off.

Dickerson entered the starting lineup for an injured Brandon Brooks at right guard in the third week of his rookie season. He was moved to left guard the following week and that position has been rock solid ever since with Dickerson earning Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons. And it will be for years to come as the Eagles announced on Monday that they agreed to terms with Dickerson on a four-year contract extension through the 2028 season. Roseman joked on Dickerson's draft night that he wasn't going to do any cartwheels, but he should now with a continual strength of this team fortified with free agency and the NFL Draft on deck.

Dickerson is entering the prime of his career, as he will turn just 26 years old during the 2024 season. He is just the seventh NFL offensive lineman – and only the second selected beyond the first round – since 2011 to earn at least two Pro Bowls in his first three seasons on the original ballot.

"I honestly could not imagine a better place to be," Dickerson told Jason Kelce on the New Heights podcast this past summer. "This city puts their heart and soul into everything that we do, especially the Eagles. I could think of 31 worst places to be."

Dickerson's personality – both on and off the field – fit perfectly for the standard and culture that Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Jeff Stoutland has developed since arriving in 2013. Dickerson is tough and physical and relishes putting defenders in the dirt with his massive frame. He's smart and savvy – leveraging the experience from his time as Alabama's center – to understand the subtleties of the synchronization needed to play up front. And, if you couldn't already tell from the cartwheels, he's plenty athletic.

"I love being a part of the team," Dickerson said in an interview with Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro during his rookie season. "It's just a unique opportunity. Most 99.99 percent of the population doesn't understand NFL football, but even a lot of people who played sports growing up understand that we're (football players) a different type of people. We have a different mindset. It's not a normal 9-to-5 that we work. Being surrounded by people who are like-minded in that they like learning, they like developing, they like performing at a high level, and being part of a team sport where one person can't carry the team. It takes all 11 guys on the field, the whole entire team, to be great."

He's bonded perfectly with the Eagles' O-line room with his fun personality – could care less about fashion as he wears overalls to games – and his constant quest for excellence. The left side of the line, with Pro Bowl-caliber tackle Jordan Mailata, is arguably the best in the league because of talent and chemistry. Dickerson calls Mailata the big brother he never had. Dickerson served as a groomsman at Mailata's wedding, and the crooning Australian was the best man at Dickerson's nuptials.

"I like to be process-oriented in the way I do things," Dickerson said in that same interview with Spadaro. "Every day, I sit down and say, 'What are the things I want to work on today and practice?' I try to be very specific with those things. I come back after practice, watch the film, evaluate, talk to the coaches, talk to other players, and say, 'Did I do this right? Was I able to accomplish things I wanted to, and did you see anything that I could do differently to improve my game?' It's doing that every single day and you can't ever get tired of it. I don't. I don't get tired of it, but that's just how I like to do things."

When Dickerson was selected to the Pro Bowl again this past season, Kelce explained how he was proud to see the young players start to get the recognition, remembering what it was like when he was first earning such honors in an O-line room that featured veterans like Jason Peters and Evan Mathis. Now, Dickerson will begin to transition to one of those veterans with Kelce announcing his retirement. For Dickerson, when he was asked about the individual accolades after a second straight Pro Bowl, he was simply focused on winning and what's best for the team.

"It's just coming in and working every day, taking the coaching and criticism, working on things I'm not doing well, and continually trying to get better," Dickerson said. "We're all trying to help each other and all play to an extremely high standard."

Dickerson is the latest example of the Eagles drafting, developing, and extending an outstanding talent at a critical position. As the new league year kicks off on Wednesday, and along with it free agency, the Eagles score a major win by taking care of one of their own in Dickerson, whose ability, work ethic, performance, and hunger for more embodies everything that the franchise wants in a player.