Cedric Tillman Joins A Browns WR Room In Flux
Photo Credit: Brianna Paciorka via USA TODAY Sports
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Browns used their seven picks to select four players on the offensive side of the ball, and three on the defensive. Andrew Berry used this draft to find players to bolster the depth chart and attempt to develop some of these rookies for the future.
One rookie, however, sticks out from the rest as he enters a cramped skill-position room.
Cedric Tillman, the wide receiver that the Browns drafted No. 73 overall, arrives on a team that already has a handful of receivers who can make their case to start over one another. Where does Tillman fit in this receiver room? Will he be another Donovan Peoples-Jones with his large frame, or will he be another receiver bust?
Throughout his tenure at Tennessee, Tillman recorded 1,622 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per catch. This may not seem great, or even acceptable for a five-year run as a wide receiver, but a few things must be acknowledged to understand the full scope of Tillman’s Tennessee career.
In his first three seasons at Tennessee, Tillman only played in a total of six games. It wasn’t until his junior year that he started to get more playing time. Tillman brought in just eight receptions in his first three years.
In 2021, Tillman’s junior year, he caught fire. In 12 games, he recorded 1,081 yards for 12 touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per reception. Sounds like first-round-pick-type statistics to me. Tillman’s flame didn’t burn that bright the next year however, as his light was stolen by teammate Jalin Hyatt.
Hyatt took over the Tennessee wide receiver room and posted 1,267 yards and 15 TDs that season. Hyatt’s name you may recall from the Oct. 15 game against Alabama where he dismantled the defense and went for 207 yards and five TDs on just six receptions. Tillman, who suffered a high ankle sprain early in the season, only played six games for the Vols for 417 yards and three touchdowns.
If Hyatt had the best season between both and was healthier coming into the draft, then he must have been drafted way before Tillman, right? Prior to Tillman being drafted No. 73 overall, Hyatt was taken by the New York Giants with the No. 72 pick, leaving Tennessee without their two best receivers in back-to-back picks.
Enough talking about college football though, it’s time to talk about the next level and where Tillman fits into this roster.
We can safely assume that second-year Browns receiver Amari Cooper and tenured Browns receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones will have their places secure as top targets for Deshaun Watson. Elijah Moore, who the Browns traded for earlier this year from the New York Jets, will also play a key role in the receiver room this year. We have our three receivers who have a sure-fire spot in the WR core, but after those guys, things start to get a little chippy.
Tillman likely fits into this roster between two receivers: Marquise Goodwin, who the Browns picked up this off-season, and David Bell, a second-year receiver the Browns drafted in 2022.
A case can be made for Tillman being the WR4 on the team, as Goodwin hasn’t gone for over 400 yards in his last four seasons. Also, Goodwin’s age at 32 is another reason Tillman might be able to compete for that No. 4 spot. What separates Goodwin from Tillman – and the rest of the WR room – is his sheer speed, which the Browns desperately needed last season, hence the signing of Goodwin.
Andrew Berry doesn’t just draft players to give up on them a year later, and that is no different for David Bell, who is sure to see more play time this season than he did last year. The issue with the Browns attempting to develop Bell is obviously the introduction of Tillman, who Berry would also love to see perform well with Watson.
Bell, drafted No. 99 out of Purdue, played 16 games for the Browns last season, and recorded 214 yards on 24 receptions for no touchdowns.
There is sure to be a battle between Tillman, Goodwin, and Bell for the back-end spots in the WR room. What’s really interesting is that each possees unique traits. Tillman has a larger-than-normal frame for a WR, being 6’3” and weighing 215 lbs. Goodwin has the speed, and Bell has huge hands, which measure in at 9 and 1/4”.
Where Tillman lands is almost all up to how Watson performs this season. If Watson can form a good connection with him early during training camp and continue it through the season, Tillman could climb his way up the wide receiver ladder. If Watson or Tillman underperform, or the two just can’t form a good connection, we may see Tillman fade into the realm of the Browns draft busts.
One thing is certain, Berry and the Browns took Tillman with their first draft pick for a reason. They see something in him that they believe can help Watson in the passing game. Maybe the front office saw the next Josh Gordon, and if all goes well, this big-bodied receiver could just be that.
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