The New Orleans Saints signed wide receiver Cedric Tillman to their practice squad on Tuesday, adding a veteran body and extra size to a receiver room thinned by injury heading into the 2026 season.
Tillman, 26, was released by the Cleveland Browns last weekend as they set their initial 53-man roster.
The former third-round pick (74th overall in 2023 out of Tennessee) spent three seasons in Cleveland, appearing in 38 games with 19 starts. He finished with 71 receptions for 833 yards and five touchdowns.
In 2025. he played 13 games with 10 starts and caught 21 passes for 270 yards and two scores.
The move comes as New Orleans deals with absences at the position. First-round pick Jordyn Tyson is expected to miss at least the first four games after a hamstring injury, and Mason Tipton opened the year on the physically unable to perform list.
The active roster currently features Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele alongside rookies Bryce Lane (fourth round) and Barion Brown (sixth round). Tillman’s experience and frame give the Saints a ready option they can elevate if needed.
At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Tillman is a classic possession receiver who can work the middle of the field and contest jump balls. That profile stood out at Tennessee, where he recorded 109 catches for 1,622 yards and 17 touchdowns in 44 games.
He tied a school record with a touchdown reception in seven straight games and still ranks among the program’s better red-zone producers. PFF once called him the most physical receiver in his draft class.
Injuries and a crowded Cleveland depth chart limited his consistency. He showed flashes—particularly a mid-2024 stretch—but never locked down a full-time starting role. A change of scenery and a thinner Saints group could give him a clearer path to snaps, at least early in the year.
The Saints also added tight end Stone Smartt to the practice squad in the same announcement.
Tillman is not guaranteed an immediate promotion, but with only four healthy receivers on the 53-man roster, he is a logical candidate for an elevation in Week 1 or shortly after.
For a team looking for reliable depth and a bigger target, the former Volunteer is a low-risk addition with NFL starting experience.
