Steelers prospect preview: Cedric Tillman is a perfect choice in round two
Tillman #Tillman
Here’s why he will work
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have just made a significant trade for a receiver, and they certainly have more pressing needs up front on offense, and on the backend on defense, but they also have the luxury of three picks in the top 50.
That means that receiver is not only a possibility but could be a likelihood, especially after the recent news surrounding Diontae Johnson and the state of offenses in the modern NFL.
So considering they address the cornerback position and deficiencies along the offensive line with their first two picks. I have the perfect candidate for pick 49 by way of Cedric Tillman from Tennessee. The undervalued receiver sits at 66th on the consensus board and could make for a promising addition.
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Tillman is a big receiver, measuring in at over 6’3 and nearly 215 pounds at the NFL Combine, where he also ran a 4.53-40 and jumped over 37 inches in the vertical. He wins with a downfield dimension and is the kind of player the Steelers covet at the receiver position.
Here is my full report on Tillman:
One Liner:
A physical boundary X that can win deep down the field.
Evaluation:Acrobat in the air, easy body control to make contested catches. Propensity to work off press. Good hand swipes and easy releases to get up field.
Body type and mentality to work the middle of the field on in-breakers and slants. What he lacks in fluidity, he makes up for in physicality at the top of his stem, particularly on return routes.
Corners often lack the sand in their pants to tackle him, parlaying big gains. Showed more explosion off the ball Vs Georgia, thought his suddenness and hip turns looked looser.
Hands catcher that can use physicality in the open field. Can track deep balls over the shoulder with timely hands at the catch point. Willing and able to set the perimeter on screens and outside runs.
Doesn’t offer a ton of nuance in his stems or at the break point. Kind of labors in straight line burst. Comes off the ball lazily when not targeted or on opposite side run play. YAC ability is questionable from a make-you-miss standpoint, which relates back to being high-cut with stiffer hips
Good feet, but want to see him sell his breaks better. Not enough hip dip. Have to note that he benefits from switch releases and stacked formations, often outside the numbers
Summary:Tillman is a ball-winner at every level of the field with impressive hands and physicality. He’s not the most fluid or functional of athletes, but he can get on top of corners quicker than you think and has an incredible catch radius.
I have a 6.32 overall grade on Tillman which relays to a mid-second-round pick and projects to be a plus NFL Starter. The more the merrier when it comes to weapons in the NFL, making Tillman an obvious top 50 choice for Pittsburgh.