The Browns offense has a need for another weapon, Cedric Tillman could “breakout” in that role
The Cleveland Browns are undergoing what is likely a soft reset of their roster. Gone are the days of tearing it down to the studs and rebuilding, but the Browns have to balance the present with the future, given their salary cap commitments. The big trade during the NFL draft was a big sign of the soft reset.
Cleveland’s offense needs to find a quarterback and limit the penalties, but would also benefit from another weapon stepping up alongside WR Jerry Jeudy and TE David Njoku. With RB Quinshon Judkins possibly facing a suspension, with few solid replacement options, WR Cedric Tillman is primed to step into that spot (subscriber, $) next to Jeudy and Njoku:
Tillman’s surge in the back-middle of the 2024 season came out of nowhere. Not only had the Browns’ pass game been largely ineffective, but also Tillman was barely seeing snaps or targets early last season. When Jameis Winston took over and started throwing the ball downfield, Tillman became both a consistent target and a real threat. A concussion forced him to miss the end of last season, but Cleveland did not draft a receiver and has Tillman’s role as an outside wideout almost in ink, regardless of who wins the quarterback job. Tillman’s size is an asset, and he can complement the speedy Jerry Jeudy in the intermediate and vertical passing games.
Heading into his third season, Tillman’s numbers so far are relatively pedestrian (even if they are solid for a third-round pick): 25 games, 50 receptions on 93 targets, 563 yards, 3 TDs (all in 2024), 4 drops and 1 fumble.
The 50 catches to 93 targets with four drops is a staggering sign of bad throws, bad communication and the detailed nuances of playing the wide receiver position.
The three-game stretch last season, where he combined for 21 receptions over 250 yards, gives a lot of hope that Tillman can really step forward and be the true “breakout” player Cleveland needs.
What are your expectations for Tillman this year with the Browns?
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