The Cleveland Browns had a productive season from their linebackers in 2025.
Carson Schwesinger, a second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, led all rookies in tackles (146), tackles for loss (11), and added two interceptions and two-and-a-half sacks to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Advertisement
Next to Schwesinger was Devin Bush, who had a career-high 124 tackles and returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns.
The only person missing was Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, whose career appears to be over after not having played since suffering a neck injury against the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
Looking to the 2026 season, Schwesinger is back and ready to build off his rookie campaign, while Bush is now a member of the Chicago Bears after signing as a free agent. In his place is seven-year veteran Quincy Williams, a First Team All-Pro selection in 2023, who has seen his production decline during the past two seasons with the New York Jets.
Schwesinger and Williams are going to be the primary players in new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg’s scheme that generally uses just two linebackers. As for how the rest of the group shakes out, let’s take an abbreviated look as we count down the days to the start of training camp.
Advertisement
Browns LB Depth Chart
Browns LB Expectations
Best Case Scenario
Schwesinger is the unquestioned star of the position group and a foundational piece of Cleveland’s defense. After a rookie season that saw him take home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and be named by his peers as one of the top 100 players in the league, Schwesinger takes the next step to cement his place as one of the game’s best young players at the position.
Williams had a disappointing season with the New York Jets in 2025, which is understandable given the Jets. But now reunited with Mike Rutenberg, who coached Williams with the Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Williams returns to the form that made him an All-Pro in 2023.
Advertisement
As for the rest of the group, Jefferson solidifies himself as a key member of the special teams unit while showing he can hold his own when called upon to play snaps on defense. Watson, Mascarenas-Arnold, and Reid show enough in training camp and the preseason to make for some hard decisions when cutdown day arrives.
Worst Case Scenario
Schwesinger takes a step back now that Myles Garrett is no longer around to occupy multiple offensive linemen, and it turns out that 2025 is more reflective of Williams’ level of play, even with a familiar face in Rutenberg running the defense.
Because if Schwesinger and Williams are not the top playmakers at linebacker, it is going to be a long season for the Browns, as the position group is arguably the weakest on the defense.
Advertisement
Browns LB Roster
Improved or Worse Than 2025’s Version
Let’s call this one a wash. Schwesinger appears to be the real deal and should be just as good, if not better, than his rookie campaign. Williams has some fairly decent-sized shoes to fill in replacing Devin Bush, who had a career year with the Browns in 2025 before signing with the Chicago Bears in free agency. But Williams should still have enough left to come close to matching what Bush gave the Browns last season, especially given his comfort level playing in Rutenberg’s defense.
The rest of the group, outside of Jefferson, is basically the same names as last season, which reinforces the idea of this being a position that is a wash when compared to the 2025 version.
What do you see when you look at Cleveland’s linebacker room? Is there an addition to the depth chart you would like to see? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
