BEREA, Ohio — The Browns went back-to-back defense, drafting UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 overall, the top pick in the second round.
He follows the Browns No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham, the top defensive tackle in the class, on a unit stocked with new talent.
Schwesinger will help make up for the potential absence this season of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who’s recovering from his scary neck injury.
Here’s what The 33rd Team wrote about Schwesinger:
UCLA Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger is a delightful talent with high-end instincts and a modern NFL linebacker’s athletic profile. It is startling to watch him play the run in a variety of ways. He is a capable plug player who attacks blocks and plays off of contact but also an impactful scrape linebacker who flows over the top of the line of scrimmage before attacking creases to tackle ball carriers.
Schwesinger is a three-down linebacker with viable coverage ability in underneath zones and provides a high floor, even as a rookie — thanks to his extensive resume in the kicking game as a special teams contributor. His projection should have NFL coaches chomping at the bit to work with him, as his play style echoes his status as a former walk-on who grinds out gains and wins with play recognition & instincts.
Here’s Pro Football Focus’s analysis of Schwesinger.
“Schwesinger is light for NFL standards at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds (242 at combine). However, he plays like he weighs 240. He gives defenses everything he has on every snap but doesn’t do so recklessly — his motor runs hot, but his discipline and fundamentals remain. Despite only one year as a starter, he shows elite processing speed and understanding of the game. His pursuit speed is adequate for the NFL level, and his vision to the ball carrier is top tier. His quickness, combined with his processing, is where he shines. Because of how controlled and agile he is, there is not a lot of separation created against him when using misdirection and play-action. This also aids him in his pass-rush reps. His lack of mass does show up when taking on pulling OL, and he can get blocked up against tight ends one-on-one. However, he does not shy away from the physical requirements of playing the position, even in those situations.”
Strengths
• Pursuit speed and vision are NFL-caliber
• Controlled footwork to not bite versus misdirection/play action
• Consistently has his shoulders square to the ball/defenders
• Is not shy for physical play despite lower weight profile
• Consistent wrap-up effort and discipline
Weaknesses
• Lighter weight gets him in trouble against pullers/climbing OL
• Lacks density, so he needs to wrap up to bring players down
This post will be updated.
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