Photo: Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire

The Cleveland Browns were our top graded draft class this year, so it wouldn’t have felt right to not highlight one of their selections. After taking our top-graded DT in Mason Graham, the Browns continued to reinforce their defense by selecting linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the first pick of the second round.

Schwesinger graded out as a 6.6 on our draft site, ranking second among WLBs behind Jihaad Campbell (click the link to read the full scouting report). The Browns had no shortage of other needs, but taking a linebacker with this selection proved that they were not shying away from what they do best: winning against the run.

Here is a look at Schwesinger and how he fits this Browns defense.

Schwesinger’s Strengths

 Despite only one full season as a starter at UCLA, Schwesinger has the instincts of a veteran with excellent awareness for where the receivers are around him. He is able to drop back into coverage and make life difficult for the quarterback, while also having the athleticism to move sideline-to-sideline and chase down runners from behind. He has an explosive first step and can pivot downhill quickly, allowing him to make a difference in almost all facets of the game.

He is not going to blow anyone away with his power or pass rush ability. His game is predicated on his motor and competitiveness off the ball. His effort level is unwavering and he will consistently play until the final whistle.

Schwesinger is more of a lanky-sized linebacker, but his fluid athleticism and high football intelligence should allow him to contribute immediately on defense and also be a core special teams player.

How Schwesinger Fits With Cleveland

Cleveland looked directionless following an abysmal season in 2024. The team sustained numerous injuries and there were a lot of questions heading into the offseason. However, when they made Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a contract extension worth $160 million, it was clear that they weren’t going to be throwing in the towel for 2025.

There was one thing that Cleveland did exceptionally well during its disastrous season: defend the run. The Browns led the entire NFL in Total Points against the run by a relatively wide margin.*

* Total Points is our all-encompassing player value stat that attempts to capture everything that happens on a football field. You can learn more about it here.

While this was to some extent the result of playing behind often while the other team ran the clock out, it still displayed an area of strength in an otherwise unremarkable season. With too many holes on both sides of the ball, the Browns were likely thinking of taking the best player overall with their early picks.

After swapping first round picks with the Jaguars and moving back three spots, the Browns elected to take Graham out of Michigan. Coincidentally, Graham led all NCAA defensive tackles in Total Points against the run, giving Cleveland more strength along the interior defensive line. The rich get richer, so they say.

Which brings us back to the topic of this article, Cleveland’s second round selection, Schwesinger. It was somewhat of a surprise selection, with many expecting them to take a player on the offensive side of the ball. However, here is one reason why this pick made sense: he can defend the run. Schwesinger was second among all NCAA linebackers in Total Points against the run, giving Cleveland even more firepower against run-heavy offenses.

This gives Cleveland two bona fide studs on the defensive side of the ball who can play tough and dominate in the trenches. Schwesinger will be able to use his elite instincts and hot motor to snuff out runs from inside the box, while also possessing the ability to move sideline to sideline when the situation calls for it.

How can Cleveland use Schwesinger?

With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah set to miss the 2025 season, Schwesinger will have the opportunity to contribute immediately in Week 1. He will step right into that WLB role where he’ll be asked to cover tight ends and running backs in man coverage. His fluidness and overall athleticism will come in handy for him, and he should be able to compete against the best early and often.

He will likely be an every-down player, but they may use him on a rotational basis to start the season. He will be effective on third downs and can be used as a blitzer off of the weak side. Since Cleveland operates out of a base 4-2 S/W, Schwesinger will spend most of his time playing off the line of scrimmage in coverage or being used in various blitz packages.

Cleveland also utilized a stacked box (8 or more players) at a 32% clip last season, which led all NFL teams in 2024. Schwesinger will need to be comfortable with congestion while still keeping his eyes open through contact and traffic, as he operated out of a stacked box only 13% of the time at UCLA.

Schwesinger is a well-rounded player overall, so Cleveland has a lot of options on how to use him. For the most part, he should be a plug-and-play LB with few limitations early on. He also projects to be a core special teams player for the whole season.

How Good A Fit is Schwesinger?

 Ultimately, Schwesinger is an ideal fit for Cleveland’s defense as they both play to each other’s strengths. Cleveland was great against the run in 2024, and they drafted a LB who was one of the best against the run in college. It’s a perfect match for both the player and team, and Schwesinger will have an opportunity to prove himself early in his career.