Will Top Two Picks make the Impact Needed?
As bad as the Browns offense was in 2024, dead last in scoring, the Browns used their top two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to help get the defense back to being a top-ten defense by drafting defensive tackle Mason Graham (5th overall) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (33rd overall).
Schwartz was asked about Graham.
"I'm cautiously, guardedly optimistic, because I haven't really thought about that in a while, particularly the way that he played against the Rams, the way he practiced against Philly," he said. "I think it's in his body now. We see the quickness. He made a big effort to change his body type, to be a little bit more lean and dropped a little bit of weight, but his movement skills have been outstanding.
"He's really good with his hands, and he just has really good instincts," he said. "So, I'm guardedly optimistic. I think there's always a tendency to sometimes regress in the heat of battle, but I think he's shown that he's got it in there. And I was very encouraged by what we saw in the preseason, particularly, like I said, particularly Philly and then the Rams game."
Schwartz was asked if Schwesinger is ready for the role.
"I'd sort of flip that question around and say, 'what makes him not capable of doing that?'," Schwartz asked. "You know what I mean? Like, every hurdle we've given him, he's jumped, he hasn't batted an eye. He has great instincts, great eyes for the football. You know, leads our defense in interceptions through training camp and things like that.
"He's just wired to the ball," he said. "He's big, he's physical. Green dot, relaying the call. I think we might overestimate like that. But his play, his communication and those kinds of things are going to be what sort of creates his leadership on the field."
Both players are expected to start and need to make an immediate impact for the Browns to get better in their rushing defense. Schwesinger led the FBS in solo tackles last year at UCLA and has looked the part in the offseason and the preseason, but there is a big jump from the preseason to the regular season. With the retirement of Jordan Hicks and neck injury to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the Browns really need Schwesinger to step in and play well.