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While Shedeur Sanders grabs the spotlight, a different rookie has Cleveland Browns fans buzzing
Quarterbacks are invariably the most important players on any NFL team, so it’s no surprise that Shedeur Sanders is the talk of Cleveland right now. But while the rookie passer turns heads on the Cleveland offense, a teammate on the defensive side of the ball is becoming a force - and Browns fans are already salivating at what he could mean for their defense.
DAZN News reveals the player with the potential to emerge as a difference-maker for the Browns' defense in 2025.
The Browns' 2025 NFL Draft was as chaotic as it was unpredictable
Many Browns' fans wanted the team to prioritise acquiring talent to reinforce the offensive line and quarterback positions.
But Browns general manager Andrew Berry had other plans, making a blockbuster trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, which saw Cleveland move down to select defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth overall selection, before acquiring running back Quinshon Judkins with the 36th overall selection.
It was the kind of move that will be studied for years, as fans and experts chart how Graham and Judkins' careers compare to the other players they could have selected. And by that measure, both of the Browns' selections got off to a slow start.
Graham's conditioning was called into question after an incident during minicamp.
And Judkins was later arrested in July and charged with touch or strike battery/domestic violence.
One rookie in Cleveland, however, has surpassed all but the most ambitious expectations - and he plays the position no fans chose in the poll above. Meet linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the Browns’ first pick, taken 33rd overall at the top of the second round.
Initial reception of the Schwesinger selection
Many experts and most Browns fans liked the Schwesinger pick, although there were some exceptions.
Despite pockets of criticism, the consensus was that Schwesinger had the tools to become a difference-maker. In his lone season as a starter at UCLA, he earned AP First Team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top college linebacker.
In hindsight, selecting Schwesinger has turned out to be an astute move. While it was already known that star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would be sidelined with an injury, the subsequent retirement of veteran Jordan Hicks thrust the rookie into a far more significant role than many initially anticipated.
Browns fans are ecstatic about Schwesinger
After watching him impress during the spring, Cleveland's fanbase began to fall more and more in love with what Schwesinger brings to the table. The appreciation of his talents reached new heights after he dominated in the Browns' first preseason game with six tackles - a performance which helped him earn the fifth-highest PFF defensive grade among the 189 linebackers who have played this preseason.
Here are a few examples of what Browns fans have had to say so far:
They are not alone with their evaluation. Seemingly, everyone inside the Browns organisation has heaped praise on the 22-year-old. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, linebacker coach Jason Tarver, linebackers Mohamoud Diabate and Jerome Baker, cornerback Denzel Ward, and safety Grant Delpit are but a handful of examples of those who have praised his ability, toughness, and leadership qualities.
My take
It's far too early to suggest he can get anywhere near emulating the legendary Luke Kuechly, but I'm not surprised to see Schwesinger make a strong initial impression.
As day two of the 2025 NFL Draft approached, I listed him as the best linebacker still available, praising his sideline-to-sideline range, football IQ, lateral quickness, and potential in pass coverage. He also made it onto my predicted All-Rookie team back in May due to his promising skill set.
Many early-round linebackers have fallen short of expectations, and many more have needed more time to develop than anticipated. With that in mind, it’s reasonable to expect Schwesinger to show some inconsistency as he adapts to the speed and demands of the NFL - it's a transition that is rarely easy for all NFL rookies.
But that doesn't mean I'm tempering my expectations. I think Schwesinger's upside is as high as several defensive players taken earlier in the draft, and I fully expect him to have a long and very productive career.
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