The Cleveland Browns’ youth movement at wide receiver could make Cedric Tillman the odd man out before the regular season.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton identified Tillman as a likely trade candidate, giving him a high probability of being dealt before the roster cutdown deadline.
“Entering his fourth season, Cedric Tillman is expendable in Cleveland,” Moton wrote. “The Browns have a lead veteran receiver and high-upside young talent behind him on the depth chart, which leaves little room for Tillman to contribute on a week-to-week basis. While he’s shown flashes here and there, the 26-year-old has missed 13 games because of injuries.”
As for a destination, Tillman linking up with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta was floated.
“Perhaps former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will make a call to reunite with Tillman in Atlanta. Underwhelming 2022 first-rounder Jahan Dotson is trying to lock down the Falcons’ No. 2 receiver spot,” Moton said.
Tillman is entering the final year of his rookie contract, adding some urgency to the situation. The Browns must decide whether he still has a role in their revamped receiving corps or whether they can extract value from him before potentially losing him next offseason.
Cedric Tillman Sliding Down Browns Depth Chart
Tillman did not play in Cleveland’s 34-10 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears. The Browns listed him among the players not expected to participate before the game.
His place on the Browns’ unofficial depth chart also offered a glimpse at how the team is viewing him. Rookie Denzel Boston was listed as a starter, with Tillman behind him. Fellow rookie KC Concepcion occupied another starting spot alongside veteran Jerry Jeudy. Isaiah Bond — heading into his second season — is also firmly in the mix.
Tillman, a third-round pick in 2023, has recorded 71 receptions for 833 yards and five touchdowns over his first three seasons. He has shown flashes of being a reliable outside target but has struggled to sustain that production.
His best stretch came during the 2024 season. Tillman posted 29 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns, including a seven-catch, 99-yard performance against the Baltimore Ravens. He scored twice in that game.
Tillman missed four games with a hamstring injury in 2025 and finished the year with just 21 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
Browns Rookies Emerging at Wide Receiver
The Browns invested heavily in rebuilding their receiving corps, using top-40 selections on Concepcion and Boston. Both rookies have quickly moved into prominent roles with the first-team offense.
Concepcion was one of Cleveland’s standouts during its joint practice with the Buffalo Bills. Boston has also been equally impressive, taking the majority of his snaps with the first-team offense.
There is still uncertainty about whether the new-look offense can consistently put points on the board. However, head coach Todd Monken came away encouraged by what he saw from Cleveland’s offense against Buffalo.
“We hit a few balls down the field. We hit some short third downs, so, you wanted to see it all,” Monken said. “I may feel different in two or three hours, but as of right now, I left the field going, ‘We’ve got some guys to work with.’”
Jeudy remains the established veteran in Cleveland’s receiving corps, but he is looking for a bounce-back season of his own. After setting career highs with 90 receptions and 1,229 yards in 2024, Jeudy slipped to 50 catches for 602 yards last season.
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