Browns’ popular rookie just pushed a former Cleveland draft pick off the roster before the final preseason game
The Cleveland Browns made a noteworthy roster move by cutting a known player before their final preseason game against the New England Patriots.
The Cleveland Browns will play their final preseason game Thursday night against the New England Patriots on Amazon Prime, and it will serve as the last chance for players on the back end of the roster to make their case.
Cleveland has already made one roster decision clear before kickoff, however.
The Browns are releasing wide receiver Cedric Tillman, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The writing was on the wall for the former third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tillman hasn’t practiced in at least a couple of weeks and was pushing for a depth spot on a roster that no longer had room for him. He’s never been a big special teams factor for Cleveland, which made his path to the 53-man roster even more difficult.
Cedric Tillman’s time in Cleveland is over
Tillman made 10 starts for the Browns last season, the most games he started across his three years with the team. Durability remained a concern throughout his tenure. He never played more than 14 games in a season and missed a combined 10 games over the last two seasons.
Last year, Tillman recorded 21 catches for 270 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His best statistical season came in 2024, when he posted 339 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The production was never consistent enough to lock down a roster spot long term.
Cleveland’s offseason adjustments at wide receiver made this outcome almost inevitable. The Browns adding wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston was a big deal. Tillman was the backup X receiver for the Browns at best, and that role now belongs to the rookie Boston. Boston is expected to start and stay on the field for the majority of snaps, leaving no real path for Tillman to contribute.
Tillman offers a big catch radius at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, but his ability to stay healthy and absorb contact at the NFL level is what stopped him from taking the next step.
The Browns were unable to trade Tillman for a late draft pick, so they’re releasing him outright. It remains to be seen whether the former Tennessee Vol gets claimed by another team or finds his way back to Cleveland’s practice squad once the regular season arrives.
