The Browns drafted UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger with the 33rd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are five things to know about Cleveland's second addition to the defense so far in the draft class.
A tackling machine as a senior
Schwesinger established himself as a tackling monster in his lone season as a starter as a senior in 2024, leading all Power 4 players with 134 tackles. He registered 8.5 tackles for a loss, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble en route to becoming a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to best linebacker in the nation.
The season was quite the finish to a college career that began as a walk-on with the Bruins after he did not receive any rankings by online recruiting services in 2021.
He wasn't ranked as a HS recruit
Schwesinger's senior season is even more impressive considering his path to become a starter at UCLA. He was a walk-on to the program in 2021 after he wasn't even ranked by any recruiting services after completing high school at Oaks Christian High School in California, the same high school as several current NFL players, including Kayvon Thibodeaux, Michael Pittman Jr. and Zach Charbonnet. He received a scholarship offer from FCS-level Bucknell, but former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly offered him a walk-on opportunity after noticing him on a scouting visit for another player.
From there, Schwesinger went from a scout-level special teams player to a major player in UCLA's defense as a senior.
Take a look back at Carson Schwesinger's football career from his days in college to becoming the Cleveland Browns' 2025 second-round draft pick.
UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger participates in vertical jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster, left, talks with linebacker Carson Schwesinger, right, during the team's NCAA college football pro day in Los Angeles, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Specializes in special teams
Schwesinger was a special teams force prior to fulfilling a full-time linebacker role and totaled 15 tackles across 522 kickoff and punt snaps in college. His primary duties with the Browns will be centered around linebacker, of course, but the special teams productivity highlights the speed and range Schwesinger brings to the position.
One of the top LBs of the draft class
Schwesinger was the second-ranked linebacker in Dane Brugler's prospect rankings for The Athletic. Brugler was highly complimentary of Schwesinger's speed, writing that he has "impressive pursuit range to touch every blade of grass over the course of a game" and that he is "an easy player to appreciate, because he is a tractor beam to the ball."
He fills a big need at linebacker
Schwesinger is a potential candidate to become a MIKE linebacker in the defense, and the Browns view him as a potential leader from the middle of the field.
"What he brings from a work ethic and leadership standpoint will be invaluable," Browns Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said.
He joins Jerome Baker, Devin Bush, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Mohamoud Diabate, among others, in the linebacker room.
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