The Browns may be in the middle of a new defensive chapter after trading away Myles Garrett, but one thing already looks settled: Carson Schwesinger is the real deal.
That belief is now getting backed up beyond Cleveland. In ESPN’s latest ranking of off-ball linebackers for 2026, compiled from NFL executives, coaches and scouts, Schwesinger landed at No.
- For Browns fans, that probably feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation.
The praise around him is loud and specific. One NFL personnel executive called him “He's [Luke] Kuechly reincarnated.
Elite speed, athleticism, instincts, ball skills,” while a high-ranking AFC evaluator said, “Plays fast, excellent instincts, good in coverage. Impressive for a rookie,”
That kind of buzz lines up with what Schwesinger showed right away after Cleveland took him 33rd overall in the 2025 NFL draft. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sidelined last year because of a neck injury, Schwesinger got a full workload and made the most of it.
Across 16 starts, he piled up 156 total tackles, good for sixth in the NFL, while adding 11 TFLs, nine QB hits, two sacks, three pass deflections and two interceptions.
The advanced numbers were strong too. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.4 overall grade, which ranked 21st among 88 graded linebackers. His 81.5 run defense grade placed 14th, and his 61.6 coverage grade ranked 32nd.
That production carried him all the way to NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, when he collected 40 first-place votes. He finished ahead of Nick Emmanwori of Seattle, James Pearce Jr. of Atlanta, Xavier Watts of Atlanta and Abdul Carter of the New York Giants.
The league’s latest rankings also put Schwesinger ahead of several established names, with officials viewing him as a better player than Zack Baun of the Eagles, Jack Campbell of the Lions, Nick Bolton of the Chiefs and Devin Lloyd of the Panthers.
For Cleveland, that’s a major sign that the 2025 draft pick already looks like a home run. The Browns know what they have in No. 49, and the rest of the league seems to be catching up fast.
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