Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss set the football world alight this month with comments about former University of Tennessee star and Browns rookie receiver Cedric Tillman. Moss, one of the best to ever lace up a pair of cleats, said that Tillman was one of the best receivers to come out of college in quite some time. He further praised the youngster to the delight of dynasty owners and Browns fans alike. With his comments in mind, I thought it a good idea to re-examine the talented rookie and determine if Moss was kidding around or if his insights have some genuine merit. Without further ado, let us dive in.
The Comment
Moss was giving an interview on Sirius XM when he claimed that Tillman was the best receiver to come into the NFL in the past 15 years!
Randy Moss just told Sirius FM that Cedric Tillman is the "best young receiver to enter the National Football League in the past 15 years".
— CamFromCanada🇨🇦 (@camfromcanada3) August 4, 2023
"It's not even close. Every owner in the NFL should be pissed at whoever overlooked this guy multiple times."
Randy Moss
SiriusFM pic.twitter.com/vnjaT25UDv
Tillman was once considered a top receiver in all college football heading into 2022. However, a nasty injury derailed his final season at Tennessee. His absence paved the way for teammate Jalin Hyatt to win the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the Nation. Once healthy, Tillman could go to the NFL combine, where he showed off some nice athleticism for a playmaker his size. You can find his profile below.
Tillman was able to entice the Browns enough that they made him their top selection in the 2023 draft, taking him in the third round. Since arriving in Cleveland, he has made several big plays in practice and his early Pre-Season action. Plays like those below led Moss to make the boisterous claims.
Cedric Tillman pic.twitter.com/Xp8corQiLu
— 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) August 2, 2023
College Profile
With the lofty praise that Tillman has received, it is a great idea to go back and re-examine his college profile and see if we missed something along the way. With Moss and later Chad Ochocinco seeing immense promise in the youngster, there is bound to be plenty to like.
When I put on film of Tillman, the first thing that jumps out is his physicality.
He does an excellent job of using his body and size in a my-ball fashion.
Time and again, he was able to dominate corners and impose his will.
While Tillman certainly doesn’t possess Tyreek Hill-like speed, he can nonetheless burn defenders deep. He was able to get behind several quality defenders during his time in the SEC. In particular, during his Junior season, he roasted Alabama and Georgia to 13/352/2. Check out some of his dominant plays from those contests against top-notch defenses below.
During his breakout Junior season at Knoxville, Tillman also possessed an excellent nose for the endzone.
He could take shorter passes and employ yards after the catch to get to paydirt, or he could use his favorite method and his size and leaping ability to go up and over the defender for the score.
Browns Future
Tillman has arrived in Cleveland at an auspicious time for the franchise. The Browns, desperate to reach a new level of success, gave up an astounding draft haul to the Houston Texans in exchange for embattled franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. They are also at a critical time regarding the receiver position. Their no.1 option, Amari Cooper, is no spring chicken. While not a dinosaur by any means, he will likely not be on the team until Tillman’s rookie contract tolls.
The only other promising young receiver guaranteed to be on the team past this year is the recently acquired Elijah Moore, who, while extremely talented, plays a much different receiver position than Tillman. Long story short, Tillman could easily develop into the number one outside option in a couple of seasons.
Did you draft Cedric Tillman in your rookie draft?
— Dynasty Nerds (@DynastyNerds) August 4, 2023
If so, where did you? pic.twitter.com/Aey1EPVdbN
#Browns rookie WR Cedric Tillman makes an excellent leaping TD catch from Deshaun Watson in one-on-ones over #Eagles veteran CB Avonte Maddox pic.twitter.com/rUJGWN97Bz
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 16, 2023
Final Thoughts
Despite flashing in camp and early in the Pre-Season, you can still acquire Tillman at a reasonable price. In a class that is deeper at the tight end position than the receiver, you can still get your hands on the player Moss called the best receiver in the last 15 years for a single third-round pick. A search of the Dynasty Nerds Trade Browser shows that this price has recently done the trick in multiple leagues. Why not take a chance on the former Tennessee Volunteer at that price?
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