LA Chargers: Non-rookies with most to prove in Chargers training camp

5. Jerry Tillery

Jerry Tillery did not have a great start to his NFL career. The LA Chargers selected him with the 28th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and the worries around Tillery’s game translated to the NFL.

Tillery had some footage from his days at Notre Dame where he looked like a monster — like one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in all of college football. However, he had some games where he would just disappear and be a non-factor. That inconsistency was a concern.

Charger fans saw far more of the inconsistencies in his rookie season than they did great pass-rushing ability. Tillery was not what he was made out to be and had a very disappointing rookie season, with some Charger fans already labeling the second-year defensive tackle a bust.

I would not say that is the case as it is just one year and if you remember correctly, Melvin Ingram was not great early on in his career, either.

If the LA Chargers get the version of Tillery that they were hoping for when they drafted him then it really is hard to find a hole in this entire defense. The team would then have a great secondary, a solid linebacker core and a fantastic interior defensive line with Linval Joseph coming to town.

This would ensure that the Chargers are not only good in defending the pass, which we know they will be, but are good in defending the run as well.

Tillery has to earn his snaps, though. Being a second-year first-round pick is not going to give Tillery anything after the way he played his rookie season and he is going to have to beat out the likes of Justin Jones and Damion Square.

And until he does that and puts together some good outings, unfortunately, some fans will continue to label him as a bust.