Raiders to release former first-round pick

Jerry Tillery‘s stint with the Raiders has come to an end. The team informed the defensive end that they would release him following the start of the league year, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After spending the second half of the 2022 campaign in Las Vegas, Tillery re-signed with the Raiders last offseason, inking a two-year, $6.8M contract. Releasing the defensive lineman will free up around $3.8M in cap space for the organization.

The former first-round pick was disappointed during his three-plus seasons with the Chargers. Tillery steadily earned more snaps through his first three seasons in the league, but he couldn’t provide the Chargers with the top-end DL skills they were seeking.

From a counting stats perspective, 2021 marked a career year for Tillery, with the defensive end compiling 51 tackles and 4.5 sacks while starting 15 of his 16 appearances. That extended look was enough for the Chargers to determine he wasn’t a future piece, as the front office declined his fifth-year option the following offseason. Tillery had a backup role in 2022 before getting waived midway through the season.

The Raiders claimed the former first-rounder, and he started four of his eight appearances in Las Vegas. He started six of his 17 games this past year, finishing with 31 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Tillery 40th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although none of his skills graded out as anything more than above average.

Considering his first-round pedigree, there’s a good chance Tillery can find a new home for 2024. However, following another underwhelming season, those changes may soon dry up for the 27-year-old.