Coaches and fans got their first glimpse of this year’s rookie class for the Cleveland Browns as rookie minicamp took place over the weekend in Berea. Seeing the images and videos from the workouts signal that football season will be here before we know it. Cleveland used their first pick in this year’s draft in the third round to take Tennessee wide receiver, Cedric Tillman.
On Friday Tillman was the first player to talk to the media before practice and the minicamp officially kicked off. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest takeaways and quotes from that media availability on Friday afternoon.
Tillman knows his size is an asset to the Browns
“This receiver corps was good before I came here. I’m just going to try to look after those older guys and try to fall after them. But definitely I do think I bring something to the table my size, my ability, what I can do. So just trying to make plays for this offense.”
The team didn’t have a ton of players that possess the size and strength combination that Tillman will bring to the table. Being able to have a well-rounded pass-catching group will go a long way in improving the offense by giving it different ways to attack the opposing defenses.
He is a fierce competitor that just wants to win
When asked about shutting it down last season due to injury he responded:
“No, me getting the surgery, the goal was always to come back and help my team win a championship.
Yeah, a couple of teams, coaches wanted to know, but like I said, my goal the whole time was to help my team win a championship.”
It likely would’ve helped Tillman’s draft stock if he had just shut it down due to the ankle injury. But to see and hear him talk about just fighting through it all to try and help his team win you can’t help but be happy that a player like that is on your team.
Tillman believes playing in the SEC helped prepare him for the NFL
“I haven’t played yet on this level. But I think definitely we have the best competition. I think you go against the best week in and week out. So they always say the SEC has the most drafted guys every year, so I think that has something to do with it.”
Having a player that has played against some really impressive defenses and excelled in those games (200 yards against Georgia in 2021) makes you feel more confident he can be good at the next level. But it is also refreshing to hear him say he hasn’t played here or proven anything yet.
Not stressing injuries just looking forward to proving himself
“I just control what I could control. Injuries happen as part of the game. Like I said, my job is just to show up week in and week out and prepare. Nothing but happy actually for Hyatt and what he did. A big brother, my little brother to me. So, like I said, that’s in the past now and just keep preparing for now here.”
Tillman isn’t dwelling on the past and isn’t worried about things that affected him negatively heading into the draft. He has the confidence of someone that believes in their ability but at the same time said all the right things to show he is eager to prove what he can do for this team on Sundays.
