Two Young Browns Are Embarking On A Crucial Presesason
Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
After an extremely disappointing loss in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in 2023, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski wasted no time making adjustments to get this roster in better form for the 2024 season. These moves included turning over nearly all of the offensive staff, which started with the mutually agreed-upon departure of Alex Van Pelt and ended with Bill Callahan being released from his contract to join his son in Tennessee.
Either way you slice the pie, Berry has shown his hand that 2024 is The Season. Right now he is focused on tailoring this team to give Deshaun Watson everything he could possibly need to succeed. He’s brought in Ken Dorsey as the offensive coordinator and added a weapon in Jerry Jeudy to help Watson push the ball down the field.
In Year Four of the Watson trade, we have come to a point where if this season doesn’t work out and Berry survives it (which he should), don’t be shocked to see a Russell Wilson-type situation in Denver, where they release him even with owing him a ton of money.
With this entire coaching staff on pins and needles to ensure this season works, the leash will be substantially shorter on players — no matter their age or ceiling — this offseason. And although these Browns may have been safe in other off-seasons, things may be different this year.
Cedric Tillman – Wide Receiver
It still feels like Cedric Tillman was a huge mistake in the third round of the 2023 Draft. It sure seemed like Jalin Hyatt was who Berry had his eyes set on, and when Hyatt went 73rd overall, Berry had already decided they were taking a wideout, panicked, and took Tillman.
Tillman did see some snaps in the 2023 season, especially after Berry traded Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Lions mid-season. Unfortunately, even as the third receiver on the roster, he was limited to 44 targets and 21 receptions for only 224 yards. Keep in mind, Tillman had some garbage time in the last few weeks of the year, which also inflated some of his statistics.
Even though Tillman showed some explosion in college at Tennessee, injuries have always been an issue and he doesn’t have nearly the breakaway speed against the pros that allowed him to be a deep threat at the collegiate level.
Tillman quickly separated from David Bell last offseason, but now with the addition of Jeudy to this roster, his competition is depth receiver candidates in Jamari Thrash or Jaelon Dardeen. All one of them has to do is shine in camp to put Tillman on the outside looking in.
If Tillman wants to make this roster he must continue to work on his route tree and continue to strengthen his hands to make difficult catches. He certainly has the potential to be an NFL-caliber receiver, but his development could be stalled in Cleveland.
Siaki Ika – Defensive Tackle
Even if you’re the biggest Andrew Berry Stan in Cleveland, the one thing you have to admit that he has struggled with is third-round picks. It started with Anthony Schwartz, moved to Siaki Ika, and (hopefully) ends with Tillman. Before the 2023 season, there is no doubt that the Browns needed a massive defensive tackle to help plug up running gaps, but drafting Ika at 98 overall in Round 3 of the 2023 Draft was a significant reach.
Ika fits the mold of a huge body, but his lack of athleticism and leverage has made him a liability in the NFL. Yes, the Browns added in free agency at the position with Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, and Maurice Hurst last offseason, but Ika was so bad that he couldn’t even make the active roster for most of the season.
Ika needs to cut about 30 pounds this offseason and put on a ton of muscle if he wants any chance to make this roster in 2024. The Browns don’t need Ika to get to a point where he can rush the passer on third down, but they do need him to be able to maintain gap discipline and not give up leverage on early downs so he can give the starters a break here and there.
Unless there are major physical changes and development for Ika, there probably isn’t a scenario where he is a contributor in the 2024 season, and if he doesn’t at least take a big step forward, he will likely be looking for a new home and could become the next Danny Shelton in Cleveland.
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