The Opening Drive 11/19: Tillman and Jeudy Must Prove To Be Part Of The Solution
The Browns need a clear direction at wide receiver to upgrade their talent and effectively integrate new culture.
As the Browns approach the final stretch of the season, the major concerns surrounding the team extend beyond just the quarterback situation and Kevin Stefanski’s future. A pressing issue is the ongoing evaluation of the roster, one are in particular is the wide receiver group, and whether the Browns fully understand the capabilities of the players currently in that position. This makes Cedric Tillman’s development in the last weeks of the year crucial. Now more than ever, the Browns need clarity at wide receiver.
Tillman was drafted in the third round as a physical outside receiver, bringing the size and competitiveness that the Browns felt were lacking. His rookie year showed glimpses of promise, but this season has been uneven so far. At times, he has demonstrated strong effort as a blocker and the ability to make tough catches in traffic. However, there have also been stretches where he has disappeared from games.
Tillman is now entering a crucial period in his career. Last season, he had five games that flashed his potential before an injury cut his season short. Unfortunately, injuries have once again hindered his ability to make consistent progress this season. The Browns don’t need him to become a star overnight, but they do need evidence that he can be a real contributor rather than just another depth receiver who fails to develop.
This offseason, the Browns have to make significant changes on the offensive side of the ball, and they need to determine if Tillman is part of the future for the team. With seven games left in the season, Tillman has an opportunity to prove himself as a valuable member of the roster.
How the team assesses Jerry Jeudy plays directly into that equation. When the Browns traded for Jeudy, there was hope that a fresh start might unlock the player Denver never consistently saw. He has been more productive in Cleveland, but still hasn’t shown the traits of a true number one target. Jeudy is best suited as a secondary receiver, someone who can win underneath, work open against both man and zone coverages, and move the chains. There is nothing wrong with that role, but it requires the roster to be built correctly around him. Asking Jeudy to carry a passing game is a losing proposition. Placing him alongside a legitimate number one option is where his value becomes maximized.
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The hoping and wishing at such a premium position has to stop.
The wrinkle in all of this is the challenge of evaluating receivers in an offense that has suffered from extremely poor quarterback play. Judging wideouts becomes almost impossible when the ball rarely arrives on time, placement is inconsistent, and big-play opportunities never materialize. Receivers suffer statistically, but the damage goes deeper than the box score. Timing breaks down, confidence erodes, and even separation becomes difficult to measure. It becomes fair to ask whether the receiver room is underperforming or buried beneath a dysfunctional passing structure. That is the reality the Browns face as they attempt to make decisions that will shape the future of the offense.
What Cleveland cannot afford to do is enter another offseason hoping the answers will reveal themselves later. They need to know whether Tillman can be a meaningful part of the solution. They need to be honest about Jeudy’s ceiling and how he fits into a long-term plan. They need to determine whether anyone can be counted on as a meanigful contributer and not just undeveloped depth at the position. For years, the Browns have patched the wide receiver position instead of truly solving it, bouncing from speed projects to short-term signings and mid-round gambles without establishing a reliable core.
That reality makes these final weeks a critical evaluation period. If Tillman proves he can play, the Browns are closer to having a functional room. If he doesn’t, they are once again staring at another offseason where multiple moves are necessary to bring the passing game up to standard.
The Browns don’t just need production; they need clarity. The combination of below-average quarterback play and uncertain receiver development has clouded every assessment of this offense. In the stretch run ahead, Tillman has a chance to make the offseason overhaul easier with some proof that he can be the receiver he has shown glimpses of. If he does, the Browns are one player closer to building a wide receiver group with defined roles and real upside. If not, they will head into the offseason looking to turnover most of the room in an attempt to find tangible upgrades in talent. The hoping and wishing at such a premium position has to stop.
Jeudy certainly factors into the future of this room, but he is not the number one. Tillman could be a factor here next season, but he needs to stay on the field and prove he can be the physical, productive receiver we have seen in spurts. Regardless of what they decide about the personnel, this is a room that needs a significant cultural shift. Too many bad habits show up every week with this group, including league-leading drop numbers, poor blocking, missed assignments, and unfinished plays. They don’t do the little things right as a group. Along with a talent overhaul, this position should be coached by someone else in 2026. A new voice is overdue.
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