There are a few sleepers in the year’s 2025 NFL Draft. UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger is going to be one of them.
Schwesinger had a very nice career with the UCLA Bruins and promises to turn it into big money in the NFL if he lands with the right team and the optimal situation. That will be the key for this potential superstar.
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Carson Schwesinger 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Measurables
Schwesinger did not participate in any of the drills at the combine aside from the physical measurements, the bench press where he did 20 reps, and the vertical jump, where he jumped 39.5”. He was suffering from a slightly injured hamstring.
According to NFL Draft Buzz, Schwesinger can reportedly run a 4.70-second 40-yard dash. There isn’t a ton of speed there but hopefully, he runs a little bit faster during pre-draft workouts.
As far as his height and weight etc., Schwesinger comes in at 6’ 2 ½ inches and weighs approximately 242 pounds. His hands measure 9 and ¼ inches while his arm length is 31 and 5/8 inches.
Accolades and Stats
Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (8x)
Walk on of the Week (Nov. 12, 2024)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11, 2024)
AP All-Big Ten Team First Team (2024)
All Big-Ten First Team (2024)
Butkus Award Finalist (2024)
Walter Camp Second Team All-American (2024)
AP First Team All-American (2024)
Big-Ten Tackle Leader (2024)
Schwesinger had a great 2024 season. He registered 136 total tackles with 90 of those made on his own. He had four sacks, eight and a half tackles for loss, intercepted two passes, and even blocked a punt.
Player Background
Carson Schwesinger is a junior who is declaring early for the 2025 NFL Draft. His career was a good one, in 2024 but he didn’t play much before that. However, his story is a nice one. He was a walk-on at UCLA. Schwesinger was a very popular player during his time in college and he was one of the best linebackers in the country.
He hails from Moorpark, California where he attended Oaks Christian School. In high school, Schwesinger played linebacker and receiver. He has shown his stuff on the football field and in the classroom consistently making honor rolls at UCLA.
He’s as smart as they come and fits well on the football field.
Strengths
There is a lot to like about Carson Schwesinger. He is as smart as they come and can seem to recognize plays in a hurry and get to making the play quickly. Instincts are his forte and they help him make plays. A nice thing about him is his ability to see things develop on the field which helps him get to plays in a hurry. Because of this, he can avoid getting caught up by blockers. A sure tackler, he’s also well adept when dropping back into coverage and can stick with some tight ends and receivers although he lacks great overall speed.
Schwesinger’s ability to play hard all the time is something that NFL teams are going to like about him. He doesn’t give up; he doesn’t take plays off, and he can keep control of his body to make plays efficiently and effectively. His mechanics are good, and he has a high ceiling.
Weaknesses
The biggest knock on Carson Schwesinger is that he is undersized. He has a skinnier frame than some and because of his size, this may allow some ball carriers to slip by when trying to tackle due to the weight differences. Imagine him struggling against a running back like Derrick Henry. His long-haul speed is not that great although he can get from point to point in a hurry. Larger blockers will eat him up easily at times and his ability to shed larger blockers has been a struggle for him.
His experience as a starter is limited as he has only one year of real starting experience. Schwesinger needs to get a little stronger so hitting the weight room will be a must. Finally, when analyzing his weaknesses, you will see that he lacks the moves to break free from blockers and slip off to make the play.
Prospect Grade
For Carson Schwesinger, it’s going to be all about how well he does in his pre-draft workouts and interviews. He’s going to show just how hard of a worker he can be and that he can improve when he gets into the NFL. One great thing about him is that he hasn’t suffered any significant injuries during his college career. That’s huge. Size might stick him on the weak side of the defense at linebacker.
Projection: Late second to early third round
Team Fits
Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles
Denver Broncos
Player Comparison
Carson Schwesinger is somewhat of a tweener at the linebacker position. He’s going to be an outside (weakside) linebacker in the league. When looking at some of the weakside linebackers that are currently playing in the NFL, the one that compares similarly to Schwesinger is Buffalo Bills linebacker, Matt Milano. The two are tough but Milano is injured at times. Schwesinger has been able to hold up well so far. Hopefully, he still can in the NFL.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images