Rookie first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson will start the 2026 season on short-term injured reserve for the New Orleans Saints. Therefore, it was a surprise to some when the Saints elected to keep only four wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster. New Orleans did add three wideouts to the practice squad; veteran Trey Palmer and Jalen Moreno-Cropper were two of those and were with the Saints during training camp. Ronnie Bell and Kevin Austin Jr. were also with the team and may yet be added.
One receiver who many expected to make the initial roster, or at least be brought back to the practice squad, after a good camp was Bub Means. However, Means was signed by the Cleveland Browns to their practice squad after his release by the Saints. New
Orleans responded by adding wideout Cedric Tillman, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, as the third wideout on their practice squad. A three-year veteran, here's a closer look at the newest Saints wide receiver.
- Name (age): Cedric Tillman (26)
- Position: Wide receiver
- Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
- College: Tennessee Volunteers
- Drafted: Round 3, 74th overall in 2023 (Browns)
- NFL experience: 3 years
Cedric Jashon Tillman is the son of Cedric Cornell Tillman, a former NFL wideout who played three years (1992-94) with the Denver Broncos and John Elway, along with one year as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Born in Natchez, Mississippi, the younger Cedric played collegiately for the Tennessee Volunteers. After seeing little action over his first three seasons, Tillman had a breakout season in 2021 within the wide-open attack of new Volunteers coach Josh Heupel. That year, Tillman had 64 receptions for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead Tennessee in all three categories. Injuries limited Tillman to only six games in 2022, where he caught 37 passes for 417 yards and three scores.
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Tillman and fellow Volunteers wideout Jalin Hyatt were expected to be early picks. Hyatt came off the board in the third round with the 73rd overall choice to the New York Giants. One pick later, Tillman would be selected by the Browns. As a rookie for an 11-6 and playoff-bound Cleveland squad, Tillman had 21 receptions for 224 yards through 14 games, mostly as a reserve. The 2024 season saw increased production from Tillman, catching 29 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Last year in an abysmal Browns offense, he caught 21 balls for 270 yards and two scores.
In three years with Cleveland, Tillman had 71 receptions for 833 yards with five touchdowns, while averaging 11.7 yards per catch. The Browns released Tillman after no receptions in three preseason outings. After losing Bub Means to Cleveland, New Orleans responded by adding Tillman to their practice squad.
Tillman was issued the No. 13 jersey upon signing with New Orleans. It's a number made most famous by Michael Thomas, an extremely physical and productive wideout. Tillman does not possess that same physicality and certainly not the same production. However, he is a big wideout who shields defenders fairly well to make plays in the intermediate areas, with a long stride to pull away. Perhaps Tillman gets a chance to earn a role with the Saints, as he adds a big-bodied option to the receiving corps.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: A closer look at new Saints wide receiver Cedric Tillman
