CLEVELAND, Ohio — While quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders commanded most of the attention at Browns rookie minicamp, two other rookies made memorable impressions for very different reasons.
On one side of the ball, second-round pick Carson Schwesinger showed why the Browns selected him 33rd overall with an impressive interception during seven-on-seven drills. On the other side, offensive lineman Mason Graham had a much less glamorous moment when he became suddenly ill during practice.
Dan Labbe noted on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, “Mason Graham puking. That was the second time in three years we’ve had a rookie lineman puke at rookie minicamp,” referring to a similar incident with Dawand Jones in 2023.
While such moments might seem embarrassing, they actually highlight the physical adjustment rookies face when transitioning to NFL practices. The coaches’ explanation was straightforward enough. Mary Kay Cabot relayed, “Kevin (Stefanski) said he ate too close to practice. Too many chicken wings,” though she added with characteristic bluntness, “Didn’t really look like chicken wings coming back, I hate to say.”
What impressed observers, however, was Graham’s resilience after the incident. Mary Kay Cabot pointed out, “He went right back into drills. So he got right back at it, even though this happened, which I think that shows the coaches something.” That ability to push through discomfort and continue competing is exactly what coaches look for in evaluating rookies.
While Graham’s moment provided some levity, Schwesinger‘s interception carried more significance for the Browns’ defensive aspirations. After a 2024 season where the defense struggled mightily to create turnovers, seeing their top draft pick already making plays on the ball is encouraging.
Mary Kay Cabot emphasized: “The Cleveland Browns grabbed only four interceptions last season. That is an NFL low. It’s unacceptable. In 17 football games, you have to get more than four interceptions. What are you doing, fellas? So to see him grab a pick in practice, that’s a good start.”
For Schwesinger specifically, the interception demonstrated exactly why the Browns valued him so highly. Mary Kay Cabot explained, “He is going to be dropping back into coverage a fair amount. That is his superpower as a linebacker. He’s going to be covering tight ends and backs out of the backfield and this is the kind of thing that you want to see from him.”
The timing of Schwesinger‘s emergence could be particularly important given the uncertainty surrounding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s availability. Dan Labbe noted, “That was one of the areas where they really missed JOK. Because he was forcing turnovers. He had that spectacular one against Washington early in the season... he would always do the ‘Peanut Punch.’ So having a guy that can do that, especially if JOK is not going to be available, which obviously we don’t know yet... having a linebacker to get those turnovers is going to be huge.”
As rookie minicamp concluded, these moments — both the highlight-worthy interceptions and the less glamorous struggles — provide important context beyond the quarterback competition. They reveal the real process of NFL player development: physical adjustments, flashes of potential, and the determination to push through difficulties.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski praised Schwesinger for his “high football acumen” in making the interception. And while no one was praising Graham’s digestive issues, his immediate return to practice demonstrated the toughness the Browns want to see from their offensive line.
With OTAs beginning soon, the rookies will face their next challenge: practicing alongside veterans. That transition will bring new lessons, both for the quarterbacks commanding the headlines and for players like Schwesinger and Graham, who showed in different ways this weekend that the building blocks for NFL success extend far beyond the spotlight.
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