CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2025 Browns rookie class has emerged as one of the brightest spots in an otherwise turbulent season, with multiple first-year players making immediate impacts.
But who truly stands at the head of this impressive class with the season almost half over?
On the latest Terry’s Talkin’ podcast, cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto and host David Campbell tackled this question, ranking the Browns rookies in order of performance.
Their top spot quickly became a two-player race between linebacker Carson Schwesinger and running back Quinshon Judkins, with both hosts struggling to decide between the defensive signal-caller and the explosive rusher.
“I’ve got Judkins, but I just got him barely beating out Schwesinger,” Pluto said, giving the narrowest of edges to the running back who has already established himself as the offense’s most dynamic weapon.
Judkins has established himself as one of the NFL’s most promising young running backs despite facing loaded defensive boxes on nearly half his carries. Judkins has faced eight or more defenders in the box on 46.79% of his carries this season - the highest rate in the league.
Despite this, he has 467 yards on 109 carries in six games. He’s also caught nine passes for 62 yards.
Judkins ranks sixth in yards after contact per rushing attempt and seventh in forced missed tackles.
Campbell made a case for Schwesinger taking the top spot on his list, just by a slight edge.
Schwesinger being tied for 11th in the NFL with 59 tackles is impressive - but the unprecedented responsibility placed on his shoulders was a separator.
“I think you can’t really imagine what it’s like to be a 22-year-old rookie inserted into the middle of one of the best defenses in the league, playing for one of the best coordinators probably in the league... and getting the green sticker on your helmet,” Campbell said.
That green sticker Campbell references marks Schwesinger as the defensive play-caller, receiving communications from the sideline and relaying them to the rest of the defense.
It’s a role typically reserved for veteran players, making Schwesinger’s seamless adaptation all the more impressive.
The Browns are part of a wave that has seen NFL offensive rookies produce more yards from scrimmage than any other rookie class in decades at the same point of a season.
Who gets your vote? Cast your vote:
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