In one of the earliest moves of the Cleveland Browns’ final roster process, they decided to part with wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Despite showing flashes of potential during his three seasons, inconsistency and injuries put his job in jeopardy, especially with the arrival of wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft.
When the rookies showed that they were fully capable of living up to their hype, Tillman’s days with the team were numbered. Cleveland waived him on Thursday, three days before the NFL’s 53-man deadline.
That gave him a little more time to find a new team, and Tillman has finally done so, signing with the New Orleans Saints.
“Saints signed former Browns WR Cedric Tillman. The Browns play Nov. 8 in New Orleans,” Cabot posted.
#Saints signed former #Browns WR Cedric Tillman. The Browns play Nov. 8 in New Orleans: https://t.co/WBqR0seIc6
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 1, 2026
A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tillman was projected to have the size and speed to be a very effective receiver in the league, and he posted five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in last season’s opening game. But with a lengthy injury history going back to his rookie year, his production never matched his skill set, and he made just 71 receptions in 38 games for the Browns.
He missed three games with a hip injury in his first season, which ended with the first in a troubling series of concussions. A hamstring injury also limited him last season, when he had 21 catches in 13 games, with one or zero catches in his final seven appearances.
Then, this year in training camp, he missed significant time with an undisclosed injury. With the emergence of Isaiah Bond as well as Concepcion and Boston, it was too much for Tillman to overcome.
Interestingly, the Browns claimed former Saints wide receiver Bub Means on Monday, so this can be seen as a de facto trade of two underachieving players. Hopefully, a fresh start in a new location will work out for each of them.
Tillman may actually have a better opportunity to make his mark with the Saints, who will be without rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson for at least the first month of the season and little else behind Chris Olave.
NEXT: Browns Could Make NFL History On Defense This Season
