The Vikings further bulked up the defensive line on Thursday.
Defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, a former first-round pick by the Chargers, agreed to a one-year deal with the Vikings worth up to $3.75 million, a league source confirmed.
Tillery joins a Vikings’ interior D-line that needs the help. And Tillery is coming off a career-best season, according to Pro Football Focus’ charting. Before he was released by the Raiders on Wednesday, Tillery had a career-high pass rush productivity rate as a rotational player who started six games. That means he was affecting the quarterback at a higher rate — sacks, hits and hurries — than he had his previous four years.
Tillery is a massive player who measured 6-foot-6-and-1/2 inches and 295 pounds at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. He was a four-star recruit out of Shreveport, La. who had eight sacks as a senior at Notre Dame. He has 12.5 sacks over five NFL seasons.
He joins a depth chart with Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard and Jaquelin Roy. The Vikings released defensive tackle Dean Lowry earlier this week, saving over $2 million in cap space. Defensive tackles Khyiris Tonga, Sheldon Day and James Lynch are free agents.