Breaking News: Head Coach Kevin O’Connell Confirms Vikings Have Reach To An Agreement to Sign Two NFL Most Experienced Standout Veterans

The Vikings are expanding their defensive line and receiver corps.

Minnesota has signed to agreements with free agency defensive lineman Jerry Tillery and receiver Trent Sherfield Sr., the team announced on Thursday.

Tillery played for the Raiders last season, appearing in all 17 games and starting six. He recorded 31 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery.

Tillery, the Chargers’ 28th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, spent his first three seasons in Los Angeles, starting 29 out of 54 games. The Chargers waived Tillery midway through the 2022 season, and the Raiders claimed him off waivers prior to Week 11.

Tillery was released by Las Vegas on Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.

Tillery, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, attended Evangel Christian Academy. As a senior, he recorded 93 tackles and 7.0 sacks and went on to compete in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

Tillery signed to play at Notre Dame, where he was supposed to play offensive tackle as a freshman but was later moved to defensive tackle. He started three of twelve games that season and all but one game for the Irish as a sophomore, totaling 37 tackles. Tillery was a full-time starter at Notre Dame for his final two seasons, recording 84 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 17.5 tackles for loss in 25 games.

Sherfield spent one season with the Buffalo Bills in 2023, catching 11 catches for 86 yards and one touchdown.

He previously played for the Dolphins in 2022, where he had career highs of 30 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns.

Sherfield joined the 49ers in 2021 and caught nine catches for 87 yards and a touchdown after spending the previous three seasons with Arizona.

Sherfield, an undrafted rookie out of Vanderbilt in 2018, caught 19 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Over the next two seasons, he added nine catches for 130 yards but did not score a touchdown in 2019 or 2020.

Sherfield has 78 career receptions, 930 yards, and five receiving touchdowns. He is also a reliable player on special teams, with 1,031 career snaps.

Sherfield was a co-captain at Vanderbilt in 2017 and concluded his college career with 136 receptions for 1,869 yards, ranking eighth all-time in both categories.