{"id":766453,"date":"2026-06-28T21:20:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T21:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/766453\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T21:20:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T21:20:28","slug":"browns-linebacker-carson-schwesinger-makes-nfl-top-100-players-list-in-first-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/766453\/","title":{"rendered":"Browns Linebacker Carson Schwesinger Makes NFL Top 100 Players List in First Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6w\">The Cleveland Browns may not have had a great year this past season, but one of their young players sure did have an electric season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6z\">In his first year in the NFL, rookie Carson Schwesinger stepped into a big role as one of Cleveland\u2019s starting linebackers. Usually, rookies take some time to blossom, but Schwesinger appeared to have already bloomed from day one.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\">It was no secret that on paper, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/browns\/onsi\/news\/these-stats-prove-how-browns-dominated-the-2025-nfl-draft-01kc7rh220ea\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2025 NFL Draft class for the Browns was amongst the best<\/a>. Fans soon learned that it wasn\u2019t just speculation, but reality that their group of young rookies would be key pieces for them moving forward.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"75\">Their top two picks included defensive standouts Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger, two building blocks to help Cleveland maintain their top-rated defense. Even though Schwesinger was a second-round pick, he was by far the best rookie of their strong draft class.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"78\">With even more room to grow for Schwesinger in his second year and beyond, here\u2019s what helped propel him into one of last season\u2019s top 100 players in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p>Opposing offenses feared the heat-seeking missile that is Carson Schwesinger<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01kw7m6r7th6vdevh4zk.jpg\" alt=\"Carson Schwesinger was dominant all season long.\" title=\"Carson Schwesinger was dominant all season long.\" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7l\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dec 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA;  Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7p\">The Browns had to act fast on adding another linebacker to their defense after they lost Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to a potential career ending neck injury, and in stepped Carson Schwesinger with some big shoes to fill.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7s\">From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/47386414\/cleveland-browns-carson-schwesinger-path-walk-2025-rookie-star\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">walk-on linebacker at UCLA to being an NFL star rookie<\/a> in 2025, there wasn\u2019t much that offenses could do to gameplan for Schwesinger. Right from the jump, Schwesinger played the best of any other linebacker on the team by leading the team in tackles.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7v\">With 156 total tackles on the season, his speed and agility combined with his knack for his hard-hitting tendencies made him a brick wall. Opposing running backs would try to challenge Schwesinger, but more times than not were shut down before they knew it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01kw7m91b5bj4ev8ts7x.jpg\" alt=\"Big time plays led to Schwesinger being recognized as a top linebacker.\" title=\"Big time plays led to Schwesinger being recognized as a top linebacker.\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"85\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) wraps up Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first half of NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Nov. 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Jeff Lange \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\">Schwesinger&#8217;s 2025 season stats include in 16 games, 156 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and two interceptions.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8c\">His knowledge and understanding of the game at such a fast rate are something you don\u2019t see as often. Not to mention, playing in such a difficult division that is the AFC North and being a force to be reckoned with is as difficult of a feat as any.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8f\">Schwesinger even went on a seven-week streak of double-digit tackles during a tough stretch of the season. On the season, he recorded nine games with ten or more tackles, and a few games that were one shy of reaching that.<\/p>\n<p>What is Schwesinger\u2019s outlook for the 2026 season<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01kw7mb8tkz6ft9127en.jpg\" alt=\"Schwesinger should have a big season in 2026.\" title=\"Schwesinger should have a big season in 2026.\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"8s\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Carson Schwesinger during a drill at the Browns OTA in Berea on May 27, 2026. | Lisa Scalfaro \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8w\">Of course, it\u2019s to be expected that Schwesinger will build on his successful first year in the NFL with a similar if not better season in 2026. As Cleveland\u2019s lead linebacker, he\u2019ll have a commanding voice on defense alongside fellow stars Denzel Ward and newcomer Jared Verse.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8z\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/browns\/onsi\/3-positives-for-browns-following-blockbuster-myles-garrett-trade-01ktjbbty836\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Even after the Myles Garrett trade<\/a>, Schwesinger should see an increased role with the team after losing one of the top ranked players in all of football. Schwesinger\u2019s talent is infectious, and with a new fiery linebacker in Quincy Williams joining the fray, the two should pair well together.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"92\">Schwesinger made football look easy when he was out there, simply adapting to the speed of the NFL right out of the gates. With another full offseason of training and a coaching staff all around, he can be expected to put up similar numbers to last season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"95\">This Cleveland Browns defense is loaded with young and hungry players looking to make an impact. With the projected easiest schedule in the NFL for the upcoming season, this Browns team is hopeful that their group of talented players can help them take the next step forward.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Cleveland Browns may not have had a great year this past season, but one of their young&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":766454,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-766453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=766453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766453\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/766454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=766453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=766453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}