CLEVELAND, Ohio — The first three picks of this year’s NFL Draft for Andrew Berry and staff demonstrate that the Browns want to create more of a physical presence on both sides of the football.
On film, UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the Browns’ second-round pick, has impressive physical tools, but his instincts and “want to” stand out the most. He just seems to have a knack for getting to the football and always seems to arrive angry.
At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Schwesinger was a one-year starter who seems to be just be touching the surface of his potential. In 2024, the linebacker led the FBS with 90 solos tackles, 136 total tackles, four sacks, nine tackles for a loss, two interceptions, three pass break ups, and one forced fumble. He showed outstanding explosiveness with a 39.5-inch vertical jump at this year’s NFL Combine.
What I like most on film is the “walk-on mentality” as he runs to the football to try and make every single tackle. Walk-on players are not on scholarship, have to pay for school, and get very few repetitions at practice to show their talents. Having to prove themselves often creates a chip on their shoulder; a hard-nosed mentality where they are willing to fight for everything they get.
Below is a clip that shows the lateral movement skills, vertical jump, spatial awareness, and ball skills as Schwesinger intercepts a ball in the red zone at Browns rookie minicamp.
**What Schwesinger brings to Cleveland**
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The [health of star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah](https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2025/05/browns-pro-bowl-lb-jeremiah-owusu-koramoah-out-for-the-season-with-his-neck-injury-headed-to-pup.html) makes the pick of Schwesinger incredibly important. Like Owusu-Koramoah, Schwesinger is very instinctual, plays downhill, and is the perfect scheme fit for the attacking Jim Schwartz-style defense.
Since Koramaoh cannot play, the former UCLA star fills that role as the electric second-level player who is expected to make impact plays. A bioengineering major, he seems to have the physical and mental makeup to wear the green dot and be the future leader of the defensive unit.
On film, Schwesinger’s instincts allow him to read a play and pull the trigger with very little wasted movement. Those instincts are the foundation of his skill set and magnify his ability to play fast. He is really good at dissecting the offensive scheme and getting downhill fast in a gap while “getting skinny” to make the tackle. This ability to get skinny through a gap gives an offensive lineman very little surface area to block.
The former Bruin has very fluid hips which allows him him to quickly change direction but still be balanced. He also has outstanding body control that allows him to bend and get to ball carriers in space or to a quarterback when blitzing.
Below is a great example of the instincts and understanding from Schwesinger as he reads the run play. He will read the zone concept from Penn State and quickly explode forward toward the line of scrimmage. He then gets skinny and does not allow any surface area for the right guard to block
Below are a few clips that demonstrate the ability of Schwesinger to blitz and sack the quarterback. Schwesinger’s instincts allow him to time up his blitzes perfectly, regardless of where he is coming from. That timing, coupled with his ability to change direction, makes him tough to block for opposing offenses.
**How would coach Schwesinger**
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Schwesinger’s biggest concern is his lack of experience as just a one-year starter at UCLA. Being a high draft pick (33rd overall), Schwesinger will most likely get early repetitions with the starting defense to showcase his talents. If I was coaching Schwesinger, I would give give him repetitions with the first, second, third, and scout teams. It not only allows him to get comfortable with different schemes, but also increase his football IQ by recognizing different offensive tactics and adjusting to various situations.
When working with the starting defense, Schwesinger can get focused coaching from Schwartz and learn the scheme. However, working against the starting offense on scout team will be more beneficial to the green Schwesinger. Seeing diverse blocking schemes from the likes of Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic and Wyatt Teller will quickly improve the linebacker skills of the one-year starter.
Simply put, Schwesinger should never come off the field during practice. Every rep he takes against high-level competition is an opportunity to accelerate his development. Practicing in-game speed situations will sharpen his instincts, improve his timing, and build his confidence. The more he competes, the faster he’ll close the gap.
**What we learned**
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I got a chance to see Schwesinger practice this past weekend at Browns rookie minicamp and came away very impressed with his size and movement skills.
The first thing you notice are the massive legs of the former Bruin. As he continues to learn the game with endless repetitions, those massive legs will be the foundation of combatting massive NFL linemen in the trenches.
The instincts, toughness, relentlessness, change of direction, short area burst, and athleticism were all as advertised from his college film.
_Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history._
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