The New Orleans Saints are quietly cooking. After the dust settled on the brutal 53-man roster cutdown, the front office didn't just sit on their hands - they got to work. According to the NFL transaction wire (confirmed by beat reporter Nick Underhill on September 1), the Black and Gold have inked former Browns wideout Cedric Tillman and ex-Chargers tight end Stone Smartt to the practice squad. This isn't just depth; this is adding serious pedigree and raw athleticism to the scout team, with an eye on October and beyond.
Why These Two Names Matter for the Saints' Offense
Let's be real: the Saints are desperate for playmakers behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Adding Tillman isn't just a warm body - it's a lottery ticket. The former third-round pick (No. 74 overall in 2023) out of Tennessee had a rough go in Cleveland, battling ankle and knee issues that derailed his trajectory. But when he was on the field in 2025, he flashed that elite contested-catch ability, hauling in 24 receptions for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns in a dysfunctional Browns offense.
At 6'3" and 215 pounds, Tillman is a mismatch nightmare in the red zone. He gives the scout team a physical, downfield presence that rookie corners need to see in practice. Pair that with Stone Smartt, a 6'4", 245-pound hybrid weapon who brings an H-back skill set that Klint Kubiak loves to utilize. Smartt was solid for the Chargers in 2025 (12 catches, 118 yards) but really shined on special teams with 3 tackles. He fits the Saints' "positionless football" philosophy perfectly.
📊 24 receptions, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2025 - Cedric Tillman put up these numbers in 11 games with Cleveland despite playing in one of the league's most dysfunctional offenses.
| Player | Team (2025) | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Special Teams Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric Tillman | Cleveland Browns | 24 | 285 | 2 | 0 |
| Stone Smartt | LA Chargers | 12 | 118 | 0 | 3 |
The Financials and the Game-Day Elevation Strategy
Here's where it gets interesting from a roster-management perspective. The Saints are sitting at $8.2 million in cap space (per OverTheCap), so they can afford to be aggressive. These aren't just minimum deals; they're strategic investments.
| Player | Weekly Rate | Full Promotion Value | Priority Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric Tillman | $12,500 | $225,000 | Development play |
| Stone Smartt | $13,000 | $234,000 | Immediate elevation candidate |
The numbers tell the story: Smartt is the priority. Because backup TE Foster Moreau is listed as "questionable" with a knee issue for the Week 1 showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Smartt is the likely candidate for a standard elevation. He already knows how to block in the run game and can split out wide - a perfect insurance policy for Juwan Johnson and rookie Dallin Holker.
Tillman, on the other hand, is a development play. He wore No. 81 at his first practice on September 2 and isn't on the injury report. He needs time to re-learn an offense and prove his knee is stable. He's a long-term stash with a high ceiling if he can stay healthy.
