The Indianapolis Colts have fortified their defensive front by signing veteran defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to a one-year deal. This acquisition adds another experienced presence to an already robust interior defensive line unit, which has retained its key starters from the previous season and welcomed two new additions during the initial week of free agency. Tillery's arrival is expected to intensify the competition for roster spots and provide valuable depth to the team.
Jerry Tillery, a former first-round draft pick from 2019, joins the Colts following single-season stints with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Prior to these, he spent over a year with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-23, after beginning his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2019-22. Despite a somewhat inconsistent track record as a starter, Tillery has demonstrated remarkable durability, participating in all 17 regular-season games for the Raiders, Vikings, and Chiefs over the past three seasons, accumulating 20 starts during that period. His versatility has seen him deployed both as a defensive tackle and an edge rusher.
Throughout his seven-year professional career, Tillery has participated in 113 games, starting in 53 of them. He has recorded a total of 14.0 sacks, with 9.5 of those coming in his first three seasons with the Chargers. In his most recent season with the Chiefs, Tillery contributed 1.5 sacks, 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits, alongside forcing a fumble in 17 appearances, including three starts. During his more prominent starting roles in 2020 and 2021, where he started 26 out of 32 games, he registered 14 quarterback hits in each season and combined for 7.5 sacks. However, his starting position became less secure in 2022, leading to his release by the Chargers mid-season before he found a new home with the Raiders. Despite starting 10 games for the Raiders in 2023, he moved to Minnesota in 2024, where he made 11 starts, but was not retained in the subsequent offseason.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 300 pounds, Tillery will turn 30 in October of the upcoming season. His signing comes as the Colts' defensive tackle position becomes increasingly competitive. The team recently acquired former Packers nose tackle Colby Wooden via trade and also signed Derrick Nnadi to a one-year deal last week. With established starters Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner returning, along with promising young talents like 2023 fourth-round pick Adetomiwa Adebawore and 2025 sixth-round pick Tim Smith, Tillery faces a significant challenge to secure a spot on the 53-man roster. His experience will undoubtedly be an asset, particularly with some veteran players entering the final year of their contracts, but the competition is stiff.
The addition of Jerry Tillery underscores the Colts' commitment to strengthening their defensive line. While his first-round pedigree comes with past expectations, his consistent availability and ability to contribute across different defensive line roles provide valuable depth and competition. His journey through multiple teams highlights a player who has consistently found a way to remain in the league, despite the ups and downs of his career. For the Colts, Tillery represents a veteran presence who can push younger players and provide a reliable option when needed, even if securing a permanent starting role proves to be an uphill battle against the team's current talent pool.