Carson Schwesinger is starting to force his way into a much bigger conversation.
The Browns linebacker, already the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, turned in another huge showing in Cleveland’s Week 6 win over Baltimore. He came into the game listed as questionable because of an ankle sprain, then went out and played like a centerpiece anyway: 13 tackles, plus the play that swung the night when he punched the ball out of Derrick Henry’s hands and helped set up Cleveland’s game-tying touchdown.
That wasn’t a one-game burst, either. Schwesinger now has 56 total tackles through six games, a clip of 9.3 per contest.
That pace lines up with Luke Kuechly’s career average, and if it somehow held over a full 17-game season, Schwesinger would be on track for roughly 159 tackles. He’s also shown he can create disruption beyond chasing ball carriers, adding a strip-sack in the Browns’ Week 5 game against the Jets.
The bigger picture is what makes the stretch so intriguing. Across the last two weeks alone, Schwesinger has piled up 21 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. For a player who already stood out in 2025, that kind of production in 2026 - especially while dealing with injury - starts to push him toward Defensive Player of the Year territory.
The hurdle is obvious: the award usually leans toward pass rushers. Luke Kuechly remains the last off-ball linebacker to win it, taking home the honor in 2013 after playing all 16 games and finishing with two sacks, four interceptions and 156 combined tackles. That matters here, because Kuechly won in his second NFL season, which is exactly where Schwesinger is now.
There’s also recent history to consider. Patrick Surtain II was the last non-edge defender to win Defensive Player of the Year, doing it in 2024 with 45 combined tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defended. And the betting market still tilts toward edge players, with Will Anderson Jr. listed as the current favorite.
Still, Schwesinger’s case is getting harder to ignore. Jared Verse called him: “He has an old school linebacker mindset … He’s a hooper … He’s the most reliable person I know.” If Schwesinger keeps stacking up production and stays on the field, those Kuechly comparisons won’t just be flattering - they’ll start sounding real.
In Other News...
Browns Suddenly Have Two Young Players Forcing A Tough Rotation Call
With the Browns sitting at 4-2 and alone atop the AFC North after six weeks, the attention in Cleveland has started to shift from the standings to how the rotation holds up as the season wears on. One of the more interesting questions inside the building now centers on how much more work running back J. K. McLaughlin might earn after making the most of limited carries, especially with head coach Todd Monken weighing the eventual return of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.
The same kind of squeeze could be coming in the secondary, where McNeil-Warren has also played his way into the conversation for a larger role. Injuries have opened the door for both players, and their recent performances have made it harder to simply hand those snaps back once the roster gets healthier. Monken has said he is hopeful Judkins and Sampson will return, but Cleveland now has a pair of young players making a strong case that the answer to the rotation question is not as simple as it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face One Test That Could Decide Their Playoff Push
At 4-2 and sitting atop the AFC North, Cleveland has put itself in a far better position than many expected, with wins over both the Steelers and Ravens giving the Browns an early edge in the division race. The schedule ahead looks manageable on paper, with most of the remaining opponents carrying losing records, which only sharpens the sense that this is a team with a real chance to stay in the playoff hunt deep into the season.
Still, the path is far from simple for a club that has historically had trouble finishing off divisional sweeps and turning hot starts into postseason security. The Browns only have a couple of games left against teams that present a more obvious challenge in the Giants and Raiders, and if they want to convert this strong opening into a berth, handling the games they are expected to win may end up mattering just as much as the head-to-head battles that have already gone their way. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Own The AFC North And The Pressure Is On
The AFC North looks upside down through six weeks, with Cleveland sitting atop the division even while carrying the worst point differential among the four clubs. It is the kind of early-season twist that keeps the standings interesting and the rest of the division close enough to make every snap matter, especially with Baltimore still hanging around the playoff picture and Pittsburgh trying to build on an overtime win despite some uneven play.
Cincinnati, coming out of its bye week, now finds itself in a more difficult spot as it tries to close the gap and steady an offense that has not found an easy rhythm. For Cleveland, the bigger issue is not just holding first place, but proving it can keep it while the pressure ramps up from rivals that have already shown they can stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]