Carson Schwesinger gave himself a very tough act to follow with the Cleveland Browns this season after the linebacker won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft threatened the first-year record for tackles and put himself in line to break the two-year mark.
But Schwesinger has been able to follow that up with arguably a better 2026 campaign. Thrust into the role of defensive leader after Myles Garrett was traded, the 23-year-old has shown all the signs of a cornerstone franchise player.
Film expert Greg Cosell was recently raving about the Browns’ young linebacker, saying his speed and ability to diagnose plays are what set him apart.
“I love their defense. Schwesinger is a really, really good player. I’m not one who uses the word ‘instincts’ very often, but he just sees the game exceptionally well,” Cosell said.
“I LOVE their defense… Schwesinger is a really, really good player…”
“I'm not going to compare him to Luke Kuechly….”@GregCosell raves over the Browns LB: https://t.co/990TaqFAQp pic.twitter.com/E32alJEK6J
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) October 30, 2026
Despite missing much of training camp with an undisclosed injury, Schwesinger got off to a good start, with 10 combined tackles in each of the first two games. However, it may have caught up with him somewhat, as he had just 15 over the next two games, before injuring his ankle in Week 4 against the New York Jets, when he managed to make eight tackles.
But he then posted a season-high 13 combined tackles and a crucial forced fumble against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. Last week, he had eight tackles against the Tennessee Titans, giving him a team-leading 64 on the season, which is 14 more than his next closest teammate, fellow linebacker Quincy Williams.
Cosell pointed out how noticeable Schwesinger is on tape, with his impressive speed allowing him to always be around the ball. He said he would not compare him to Luke Kuechly just yet, but his traits are very similar to the Hall of Famer, who holds the record for tackles in a player’s first two seasons.
The NFL Films analyst also pointed out that the Browns play a defensive scheme with more single high safety and Cover 1 formations than any team in the league. They also use more stunts up front, rather than blitzing, which makes a linebacker like Schwesinger so important to their success.
Schwesinger will try to keep the Browns in first place in the AFC North when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
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