The Cleveland Browns had what many believe to be a successful NFL Draft this year, and the team upgraded several positions on defense.
Their first overall pick at No. 5, Mason Graham, is expected to be a Day 1 contributor in Cleveland and was named to the NFL.com Preseason All-Rookie team.
Now, his new teammate, and Browns second-round pick, Carson Schwesinger, has also been given that same honor.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice named his team earlier this week.
"The first pick of the second round is one of the more interesting stories in this draft class. Schwesinger arrived at UCLA as a walk-on and didn’t see much action beyond special teams during his first three years with the program," Filice wrote. "This past fall, though, he entered the starting lineup in the third week of the season and never looked back, earning first-team All-America honors after leading the nation with 90 solo tackles. Rangy and instinctive with skills to defend against the run or pass, Schwesinger fits the mold of the modern off-ball linebacker.
"And playing behind Cleveland’s Myles Garrett-led front should keep the rookie pretty clean, allowing him to fly around the field and stuff the stat sheet."
The Browns had a need of playmakers on offense, which makes the selection of Schwesinger all the more surprising. But it shows how high the linebacker was on their board.
The big question mark surrounding starting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah might've prompted the Browns to draft Schwesinger, as JOK's season ended prematurely last year after a neck injury and his return timetable is uncertain.