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Steal on the Practice Squad: What Cedric Tillman and Decamerion Richardson Bring to the Saints
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- Steal on the Practice Squad: What Cedric Tillman and Decamerion Richardson Bring to the Saints
If you thought general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore were finished fine-tuning the 2026 roster after Sunday's 53-man cutdown and Monday's initial waiver wire activity, Tuesday afternoon delivered another clear reminder: the bottom third of an NFL depth chart is a constant, fluid work in progress.
Heading into their first game-week style padded practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Wednesday, the Saints finalized another wave of roster transactions. The New Orleans Saints claimed third-year cornerback Decamerion Richardson off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders and added former Cleveland Browns third-round wide receiver Cedric Tillman and veteran tight end Stone Smartt to the 16-player practice squad.
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With top-10 overall draft choice Jordyn Tyson beginning the year on Injured Reserve/Designated to Return due to a persistent hamstring strain and the secondary working through minor bumps, these tactical additions provide instant high-upside depth.
Cedric Tillman: A Low-Risk, High-Reward Boundary Target
The headline addition of the afternoon is undeniably wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Drafted 74th overall out of Tennessee by the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Tillman found himself caught in a tight numbers game in Cleveland coming out of camp.
Cedric Tillman entered the NFL as a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 NFL Draft, selected No. 74 overall after a productive college career at Tennessee. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Tillman brings good size and a physical presence to the wide receiver position. From 2023 through 2025, he appeared in 38 games with 19 starts, recording 71 receptions for 833 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
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During the 2025 season, Tillman played in 13 games and started 10, finishing with 21 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns. While his numbers haven't jumped off the stat sheet, his combination of size, NFL experience and starting reps gives him an intriguing profile as a receiver capable of providing depth and contributing within an NFL passing attack.
Tillman possesses the exact physical profile Kellen Moore prefers for boundary contested-catch scenarios. With Chris Olave locked in as the primary target and Devaughn Vele alongside rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown handling the active receiver reps, Tillman gives New Orleans a proven NFL wideout on the practice squad.
If Lance or Brown hit an early-season rookie wall, Tillman represents an immediate gameday elevation candidate who has already started 19 games and logged over 800 yards at the professional level.
Secondary Reinforcements: Decamerion Richardson
On the defensive side, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley gets another raw, high-upside athlete for his secondary rotation in Decamerion Richardson.
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Claimed off waivers after being let go by Las Vegas , Richardson, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound Mississippi State product, boasts elite developmental length and sub-4.4 speed. With rookie Quincy Riley battling a groin tweak during the preseason and veteran Isaac Yiadom released over the weekend, Richardson gives Staley a developmental press-man cornerback behind starters Kool-Aid McKinstry and Martin Emerson Jr.
Why These Moves Matter for New Orleans
The modern NFL regular season is a war of attrition. Success in September and October often comes down to how quickly a coaching staff can integrate practice squad elevations and late waiver claims into specific packages.
By stashing Tillman and Smartt alongside local products Trey Palmer and Jalen Moreno-Cropper on the practice squad, Loomis has constructed a deep safety net for Tyler Shough 's pass-catching corps. Meanwhile, claiming Richardson alongside trench disrupter Colby Wooden earlier in the week ensures that Brandon Staley's defensive rotation won't lose physical aggression if injuries strike early in the year.
