Colts Sign Former First-Round Pick to Bolster Defensive Line

Jerry Tillery, a veteran defensive tackle, joins Indianapolis on a one-year deal.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:18am

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The Indianapolis Colts have signed Jerry Tillery, a former first-round pick, to a one-year contract. Tillery has played for four teams over the past seven seasons, including the Chargers, Raiders, Vikings, and Chiefs. He will look to earn a spot on the Colts' crowded interior defensive line, which already features starters Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner, as well as young backups Adetomiwa Adebawore and Colby Wooden.

Why it matters

The Colts are bolstering their defensive line depth by adding a veteran presence in Tillery, who has starting experience and the ability to play both defensive tackle and edge rusher. This signing adds competition and experience to a position group that is crucial to the team's defensive success.

The details

Tillery, a 28th overall pick in 2019, has appeared in 113 games and made 53 starts over his seven-year NFL career. He has recorded 14.0 sacks, with 9.5 of those coming in his first three seasons with the Chargers. Last season with the Chiefs, Tillery made 1.5 sacks, 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits while forcing a fumble in 17 appearances and three starts.

  • Tillery signed a one-year deal with the Colts on March 17, 2026.
  • He will turn 30 years old in October of the 2026 NFL season.

The players

Jerry Tillery

A former first-round pick in 2019, Tillery has played for the Chargers, Raiders, Vikings, and Chiefs over the past seven seasons.

Grover Stewart

The Colts' longtime starting defensive tackle, entering the final year of his contract.

DeForest Buckner

The Colts' other starting defensive tackle, also entering the final year of his contract.

Adetomiwa Adebawore

A 2023 fourth-round pick who made seven starts for the Colts last season.

Colby Wooden

A defensive tackle acquired by the Colts in a trade from the Packers earlier this offseason.

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What’s next

Tillery will look to earn a spot on the Colts' 53-man roster during training camp, where he will compete with Derrick Nnadi and Tim Smith for the final interior defensive line position.

The takeaway

The Colts are adding depth and experience to their defensive line by signing Jerry Tillery, a former first-round pick. While he faces an uphill battle to make the roster, Tillery's versatility and NFL experience could prove valuable for a Colts team looking to solidify its defensive front.