One surprise cut candidate from each NFL team in 2021

Los Angeles Chargers: Jerry Tillery, Defensive Tackle

This one would have been easy as Trai Turner was someone who seemed like an easy choice for the Los Angeles Chargers to release. It was such an easy decision that it already happened and the five-time Pro Bowler is still looking for his next home after a frustrating campaign with the Chargers.

Now, the attention has to go elsewhere for a potential surprise cut and the spinning wheel ends up landing on the other side of the line of scrimmage with Jerry Tillery. A former first-round pick in 2019, Tillery was supposed to help transform their defensive line, but so far, that hasn’t happened.

As a rookie, Tillery had just 17 tackles and two sacks while spending much of the season as a rotational lineman. Then in 2020, he did get 11 starts in 16 games but his play wasn’t vastly improved. He was one of the lower graded defensive tackles in the game and is expected to be a backup in 2021 behind Linval Joseph and Justin Jones.

There’s also Christian Covington who was singed in the offseason as a potential replacement as well. Sure Covington isn’t a household name but he has been an effective player so far in the NFL. They may end up giving him another year but he could be in trouble if he doesn’t start improving quickly.