Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach signs yet another former first-round pick with low-risk, high-reward potential
The Kansas City Chiefs are signing defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to a one-year contract, per a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Tillery is the second outside free agent the Chiefs have signed on the defensive side of the ball this week, following the acquisition of cornerback Kristian Fulton. DT was arguably Kansas City's biggest […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are signing defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to a one-year contract, per a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Tillery is the second outside free agent the Chiefs have signed on the defensive side of the ball this week, following the acquisition of cornerback Kristian Fulton. DT was arguably Kansas City's biggest remaining need, and Tillery could have a shot to start opposite Chris Jones in 2025.
However, this signing won't likely deter the Chiefs away from drafting a DT with one of their early picks. Tillery is coming off arguably the worst season of his six-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. He appeared in all 17 games and made 11 starts, but recorded just 28 total tackles and zero sacks.
Tillery was a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. He never quite lived up to that status, but did have a solid year in 2021 with 51 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 21 quarterback pressures. He followed that up with a very disappointing 2022 campaign, leading to be released during the middle of the season.
He performed fairly well as a rotational lineman in 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders, but was released after the season, which led him to Minnesota. Among 219 qualifying defensive linemen, Tillery ranked 171st in pass rush and 112th against the run in 2024 per Pro Football Focus. He provides some versatility, sometimes lining up at defensive end.
Tillery has played in both 4-3 and 3-4 base defensive schemes. It seems that he would be best used as a situational pass rusher rather than an every down player, but perhaps he can find his old form again in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. At the end of the day, Tillery is another former first-round pick who is a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing, which GM Brett Veach has a history of acquiring nearly every offseason.
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Looks like they’re all set.
