Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger was impressive in his NFL debut, showcasing not only why the Browns made him the first pick of the second round, but also why defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz felt comfortable starting him and having him wear the green dot as the quarterback of the defense.
Schwesinger was credited with a 90.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking him fifth among all qualifying NFL linebackers. His tape lines up with the grade, as though he may not have made a splash play, Schwesinger was consistent and avoided negative reps, playing assignment-sound football and simply doing his job well.
Run defense Improvement
One of the biggest negatives (and there weren't many) of Schwesinger's profile coming out of UCLA was his lack of strength and physicality. Littered throughout his collegiate tape were examples of offensive linemen getting to him and effortlessly driving him completely out of the play, and given that NFL OL are bigger, faster, stronger, and more technically sound, there were valid concerns that Schwesinger would be washed out of plays. That rarely happened on Sunday, and the rookie showed a surprising resilience and ability to anchor and fight through blockers when they did get to him.