The Kansas City Chiefs made a concerted effort to add to their defensive line after seeing their offensive line getting blasted in the Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense.
The Chiefs re-signed Charles Omenihu, Mike Pennel, and Marlon Tuipulotu to one-year deals and also signed veteran defensive lineman Jerry Tillery to a one-year contract.
Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City used its second and third-round picks on defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott and edge rusher Ashton Gillotte. The Chiefs did lose Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Nnadi in free agency, which was a notable loss for the defensive tackle spot.
However, Chiefs fans should not sleep on Tillery, who hasn’t lived up to his former first-round pick stature thus far. But on a one-year deal, he has a lot to prove.
The veteran defensive lineman recently spoke with the media during minicamp and expressed a ton of excitement about why he joined Kansas City this season (h/t Arrowhead Pride).
"The way we come to work focused every day, there’s a very high level of expectations on everybody. And, you know, it’s important to buy in quickly, which I think that I have... The coaches are tough. The practices are difficult. But it’s all geared towards winning, towards, you know, getting the best out of yourself. And that’s why I’m here."
The 28-year-old defensive lineman began his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he played for three-plus seasons before getting waived on November 11, 2022. Tillery was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders three days later and played in the remaining eight games in the 2022 season.
He signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Raiders following the 2022 campaign. But the Raiders cut ties with the former first-round pick last offseason. After playing for two teams in the AFC West, Tillery signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Under the direction of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Tillery racked up 28 combined tackles, three quarterback hits, two pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss in 17 games (11 starts – career-high)
Tillery’s PFF grades were not good (54.3 – pass rush and 51.8 – run defense) in 2024, but he has a chance to have a major role in a championship-level defense that’s looking to replace Wharton and Nnadi.
The snaps are there for taking, it will be up to Tillery to run with the opportunity. Playing on a defensive line that features Chris Jones and George Karlaftis should open up potential sack opportunities, as opposing offenses will refuse to let them wreck the game.