Browns Cedric Tillman and Dorian Thompson-Robinson Familiar With Each other, Siaki Ika Ready to be a “Ferrari” for Jim Schwartz’s Defense

Cleveland Browns 2023 draft class had a little bit of everything, including some new teammates who already know each other

Brandon Little | Apr 29, 2023

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Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns wrapped up their 2023 NFL Draft this evening and selected seven players in the process. We were able to hear from a couple of the players that were selected already, as WR Cedric Tillman, DT Siaki Ika, and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson all became members of the Browns organization.

Cleveland’s first pick came at No. 74 in the third round when the team selected the WR Cedric Tillman out of Tennessee. Tillman and the Browns’ fifth-round pick Thompson-Robinson out of UCLA have a history together.

“I was very excited. I was on the plane and my mom just showed it to me. I was just talking about how it would be cool if Dorian came, too. Kind of just throwing it out there. Life is funny sometimes, but it’s great,” Tillman said of Thompson-Robinson, who he has known since high school.

Tillman had his welcome to the NFL moment when Browns QB Deshaun Watson reached out to him.

“He just told me that he was excited,” Tillman said. “He’s ready to work. He just said take the moment and just enjoy the night. He’s ready to work and he’s ready to go.“

Thompson-Robinson is already familiar with Watson, on the other hand.

“Luckily, I’ve had plenty of times to be able to meet Deshaun. He’s been able to come out to UCLA, work out there and me just wanting to go out there and get extra work in. Him allowing me to work out with him has been very beneficial for me throughout my college career,” said the Browns’ fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA.

Now, to finally be able to join up with him, I think, will be really special for me and my development. I think it will go a long way and I think as well as his development. I think I can help him out, too, giving him an extra set of eyes and ears just from everything I’ve learned in college so far.”

Ika comes from Baylor where he had one job, and that’s stopping the run, though he does pride himself on being able to get after the quarterback. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was excited with the selection and referred to Ika as a “Ferrari”.

“Tobe honest, I don’t know what it means (laughs),” said Ika, who has quite the personality it seems. “I will do whatever he wants me to do. I will be a Ferrari. I will be a Chevy, if you want me to be. Probably means just growing up, becoming a pro. Definitely going to start looking at myself as a Ferrari now.”

Schwartz and Ika have already spoken. Schwartz has a plan for Ika in the defense already.

“We talked a lot about the front and improving the run defense. I’m a run-stopper. It’s something I love to do. Excited to get here and contribute to that.”

The big guy out of Baylor seemed to be pretty star-struck to be going to work with Browns DE Myles Garrett. He said that he is going to be his best friend jokingly.

“He hasn’t reached out, but, I’m looking forward to when he does. He doesn’t know this, but he’s going to be my best friend (laughs). That’s my goal, as of right now, to be best friends with Myles. I’m really excited to play with him.”

Browns now turn their focus toward the undrafted free agency market, where teams will try to find some under-the-radar guys who did not get selected in this year’s draft. The draft class the Browns have taken looks to be a promising one, and there’s already some chemistry there.

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