Carson Schwesinger was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft at pick #33. With one full season under his belt, the fans in Cleveland are excited to see what the future holds for him. As he prepares for the 2026 season at age 23, let’s take a look at his history with the team and what the future may hold.
Carson Schwesinger: 2026 Cleveland Browns Player Profile
Background Information
Carson Schwesinger was born on February 24, 2003, in Moorpark, California. He attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, where he went unranked as a recruit. Schwesinger walked on to the UCLA Bruins and earned his spot with relentless determination and a strong work ethic. He turned heads in 2024 as a redshirt junior, earning first-team All-American honors after leading the nation with 90 solo tackles and posting 136 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble. A Butkus Award finalist and Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist, Carson captained the Bruins defense. Throughout his collegiate career, Schwesinger showcased the instincts, athleticism and toughness that made professional scouts take notice.
Career Trajectory
The Browns made Carson Schwesinger the first pick of the second round in the 2025 NFL Draft. He stepped in and contributed immediately as a rookie, starting all 16 games and quickly becoming an integral part of the defense. Schwesinger led the Browns with 156 tackles (sixth in the NFL), added 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and two interceptions. His relentless pursuit and ability to understand the concepts the offense is presenting across the line of scrimmage earned him AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Schwesinger’s game pops off the screen with the burst, range and aggression that keeps him around the football on nearly every defensive snap.
Unfortunately, a quad injury sidelined him late in the season, which had his year end on the IR.
Statistical Overview
| Def | Def | Fumb | Fumb | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | PD | FF | FR | Sk | Comb | Solo | TFL | QBHits | Sfty |
| 2025 | 22 | CLE | NFL | LB | 16 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 156 | 67 | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| 1 Yr | 1 Yr | 1 Yr | 1 Yr | 16 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 156 | 67 | 11 | 9 | 0 | |
| 17 G | 17 G | 17 G | 17 G | 17 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 | 166 | 71 | 12 | 10 | 0 |
Contract Status
Carson Schwesinger is under a four-year, $11,800,400 fully guaranteed rookie contract (average annual value $2,950,100) that includes a $5,222,108 signing bonus. In 2026, he carries a base salary of $1,376,382, a cap hit of $2,681,909, and dead cap value of approximately $10.2 million. The Browns are unable to renegotiate or look to amend the terms of the contract until after the year turns to 2028.
2026 Outlook
Coming off a Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign and fully recovered from the quad injury, Schwesinger is set to take the next step in his promising career. His combination of size, sideline-to-sideline speed, and football IQ make him the perfect centerpiece for Cleveland’s linebacking group. Whether dropping into coverage, filling gaps against the run, or rushing the passer, Carson brings the exact physicality and leadership that will set the tone for the defense.
Carson Schwesinger projects as the long-term solution for the second level of the Browns defense. There’s little doubt that his ceiling is that of a top-10 LB in the NFL. Cleveland now has the unquestioned leader of the linebacking group that it can build around and prepare to compete for the AFC North division title.
Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
FAQs
Who is Carson Schwesinger?
Carson James Schwesinger is a professional American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Born February 24, 2003, in Moorpark, California, he was a walk-on at UCLA that became the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
What position and jersey number does Carson Schwesinger play and wear?
He plays linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and wears #49.
Where did Carson Schwesinger go to college?
He played college football for the UCLA Bruins (2021–2024). He began as a walk-on and became a First-team All-American in 2024, leading the nation with 90 solo tackles that season.
When and where was Carson Schwesinger drafted?
He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
