As training camp approaches, competition intensifies, and for some veterans, a once secure roster spot is no longer guaranteed. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman finds himself in the same situation as he enters the final year of his rookie season.

According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Tillman faces a battle after the Browns made additions by drafting KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to the receiver room.

“It looks to me like perhaps the writing could be on the wall for Ced Tillman right now with the drafting of KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston,” Cabot said on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.

Jerry Jeudy is the established veteran, while rookie first-rounder Concepcion brings explosiveness. Isaiah Bond is also pushing for snaps. Cabot observed that Boston has the same physical profile that Tillman once had, making the latter's position uncertain.

“He has a similar body type to Denzel Boston. They’re the contested catch guys that you got to go down there and you got to squeeze yourself in between two defenders and grab that football,” added Cabot. "And Denzel is really, really good at that. So he’s moved ahead of Ced Tillman for that job."

Cleveland's front office has invested heavily in both the rookies, and they are expected to contribute immediately.

Boston provides a high-upside version of the receiver role, recording 135 receptions for 1,811 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns over his final two college seasons at Washington.

Meanwhile, Tillman recorded 71 receptions for 833 yards and five touchdowns across three NFL seasons.

He suffered a hamstring injury in September and a concussion in December, which held him back from consistent production last season. But he still recorded 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

The Browns' receiving corps has suddenly become one of the competitive position groups on the roster. So Tillman has to outperform the team's younger additions to secure the roster spot.

However, the Browns insiders believe the challenging part is what roster decisions say about the franchise's improving roster depth.

Browns insider states tough roster calls mean Cleveland is finally building the right way

Cleveland's receiving corps has created one of the toughest position battles. With established veterans and promising rookies competing, the Browns would be forced to part ways with players who may have made the team in previous years.

“In a weird way, this is what you want when you’re building a roster, is you want to have to make hard decisions,” Dan Labbe, host of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, said. “And it’s not always fun. I mean, that’s why Andrew Berry and all these guys make a lot of money.”

GM Andrew Berry's approach is to add talent through the draft to make every role competitive instead of just filling the roster. The Browns had a rough offense last season, averaging just 16.4 points per game in 2025, ranking 31st in the NFL.

The passing game recorded only 16 touchdowns against 18 interceptions, while Browns QBs were sacked 51 times. Jeudy remains the veteran in the room, but the Browns need more speed, youth, and upside talent around him.

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit