Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger wasted little time in letting the NFL know he was a player who deserved their attention.
A second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Schwesinger had eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, in his debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. He posted the first of nine games with double-digit tackles in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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When the season came to a close, the stat sheet revealed that Schwesinger led all rookies in tackles (146, also the most by a Cleveland rookie since the franchise’s return in 1999) and tackles for loss (11). He also found time to intercept two passes, which tied him for third among all rookies.
The league took notice and named Schwesinger the Defensive Rookie of the Year, joining linebacker Chip Banks (1982) as the only Cleveland players to win the award.
This week, Schwesinger added another honor as he came in at No. 93 on the annual NFL Top 100 list, as voted on by his fellow players.
A 2025 second-round pick who turned in a sensational first season, Schwesinger became the first AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Browns since Chip Banks in 1982. Schwesigner was the leading tackler for a Cleveland defense that ranked fourth in yards allowed. With Myles Garrett traded to the Rams, Schwesinger and pass rusher Jared Verse will now be looked on to lead the Browns for years to come. The UCLA product is off to a phenomenal start so far.
Schwesinger’s 57 run stops were eighth in the NFL and first among rookies.Schwesinger is the first Cleveland player on the list, and it will be interesting to see if anyone else makes the cut. Myles Garrett, now with the Los Angeles Rams, will certainly be on the list, and cornerback Denzel Ward should have a shot.
After that, it gets pretty slim. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a nice rookie season, but he may not have done enough. Perhaps the rest of the league has bought the hype and will add quarterback Shedeur Sanders, which would be something else.
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The NFL Top 100 will continue, with two players revealed each day at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. EST through August 21. Then the Top 10 players will be revealed each weekday at 10 a.m. EST from August 24 through September 24.
