The Browns have built a reputation on defense, and Carson Schwesinger stepped right into that tradition last season. Now the question hanging over the second-year linebacker is simple: can he do it again?
Schwesinger already gave Cleveland a rookie year worth talking about. He finished with 146 total tackles, the most by any NFL rookie defensive player, and added 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 9 QB hits, 4 knockdowns, 2 hurries, 9 pressures, 3 batted passes, 10 missed tackles, and a tie for third in interceptions. That kind of production doesn’t just turn heads - it changes expectations.
And Schwesinger knows the bar has been raised. With training camp closing in, he said the focus now is on sharpening the details that separate a good season from a repeat performance.
“I think there’s a lot of things to get better at. Whether it’s just the preparation throughout the game week and figuring out really what to watch, how to watch film, and things like that.”
He’s spent the offseason around the team, showing up for OTAs, minicamps, workouts at the facility and the voluntary program. That kind of steady presence matters even more now because the Browns’ defensive landscape has shifted around him.
The biggest change is on the sideline. Jim Schwartz is out, Mike Rutenberg is in, and that means a fresh start for the entire defense. Schwesinger said he wanted to get comfortable with the new staff and the people now running the room.
“Obviously, we have Rudy here and a lot of whole new coaches, so I think it’s important to get to meet them as well and understand them. I was excited to be around all the guys again and see them and be able to work with them.”
Even with the coaching change, Schwesinger’s job description doesn’t appear to be changing much. He’ll still wear the defensive green dot, and he’ll still be asked to play fast and set the tone. That responsibility only gets heavier when the roster around him changes too.
The Browns brought in Quincy Williams, a seven-year veteran who earned First Team All-Pro honors with the New York Jets in 2023. They also added Jared Verse, along with drafted and undrafted rookies. And some familiar pieces are gone, too, including Myles Garrett, who is now with the Los Angeles Rams, and Devin Bush, who was released after posting 125 total tackles and three interceptions.
Todd Monken saw enough of Schwesinger last season to come away impressed. When the Browns faced him, Monken saw a linebacker who was constantly around the ball and playing well beyond his experience.
“When we played against him, he was impressive. Run, chase, hit, very instinctual, loves football, outstanding leader, all of those things, and you’re like, well, they’re right. I’m damn glad he’s a Brown.”
Monken had already said when he was hired that the defense would largely stay the same, and he reiterated that in his introductory press conference:
“ First off, my anticipation is we are not going to change the system. And I’m not gonna get into staffing.
But they can rest assured that we’re gonna keep the same system. We’re still gonna let them attack.
We’re still gonna let them play free. I can’t see it any other way.
“
Still, a new coordinator means new details, and Schwesinger is treating that as part of the next step. He said he wants to keep improving his football intelligence, his preparation and his ability to attack the ball, including creating more punch outs.
“For me, I just want to be able to do as much as I can and get better. But even just in this time, whether it’s improving the football knowledge, football intelligence, or just finding better ways to attack the ball and really get those punch outs. I think that’s something I’m really going to work on this year.”
For a player who already made a major splash as a rookie, the challenge now is staying ahead of the league’s adjustment. Schwesinger put it plainly.
“Now I guess the mindset is just, what’s next? And keep building off of it.”
That’s the job in front of him now: keep growing, keep diagnosing faster, keep making plays behind the line of scrimmage, and be ready for the next snap in a Browns defense that has already changed around him.
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