The Cleveland Browns have released wide receiver Cedric Tillman ahead of their preseason finale against the New England Patriots, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's a pretty shocking development, one that presents an opportunity — and a well-timed one at that — for the New York Giants to strike.
As Schefter noted, the Browns spent two early draft picks on Tillman's successors, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. The other shoe was bound to drop eventually, and it officially has, just as the Giants lost Calvin Austin III to a season-ending torn ACL.
Austin signed a one-year contract "worth up to" $4.5 million to join New York as a free agent in March. He was expected to play a significant role as their primary slot option, so his absence will be felt. The club might have to get creative trying to replace him, though Tillman's sudden availability throws another hat into the ring.
Browns' releasing WR Cedric Tillman gives Giants a potential Calvin Austin III replacement
Frankly, there aren't many attractive alternatives on the open market, especially at this stage of the offseason. Good luck striking a trade for a meaningful upgrade with Week 1 right around the corner, too. So, at the very least, the G-Men should do their due diligence on Tillman.
A hamstring issue landed Tillman on injured reserve early in 2025 and derailed him thereafter. He went from being an every-down starter to slowly fizzling out and settling into a part-time role upon his return to the lineup.
However, Tillman was selected in the third round (2023, to be exact) and began showing what made him an intriguing prospect not too long ago. He truly broke out once the Browns rerouted five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills in 2024, albeit in a small sample size.
Tillman erupted in the first three games of Cleveland's post-Cooper era. During that stretch, he ranked at or near the top among all wideouts in the following key categories, courtesy of Pro Football Focus ($):
- Tied for the second-most receptions (21)
- Tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns (three)
- Second in missed tackles forced (six)
- Second in receiving first downs (13)
- Fifth in receiving yards (255)
- 11th in yards after the catch (74)
It's worth highlighting that Tillman's production wasn't buoyed by one massive performance either. He was consistently putting up numbers, recording at least six receptions and 75 yards in all three contests. His hot streak cooled, alas, before a concussion eventually knocked him out for the remainder of the campaign.
At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Tillman offers New York another potential big-bodied pass-catcher. He's displayed an impressive ability to win in jump-ball situations with strong hands and physicality. His skill set is nowhere near a one-for-one match with Austin, but talent and proven upside alone are worth consideration.
Another interesting layer to a Tillman-Giants pairing would be that his one-time college teammate, receiver Jalin Hyatt, is flaming out in East Rutherford. They overlapped at the University of Tennessee from 2020 through 2022 and even entered the NFL together as back-to-back selections. The latter was taken one spot ahead of the former, for what it's worth.
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