The news arrived via the league’s verified account with a highlight reel that paired the 23-year-old with veteran Myles Garrett. It was a fitting visual — the rookie sensation who dominated in 2025 now standing alongside one of the game’s premier pass rushers.
A Rookie Season That Demanded Attention
Schwesinger did not ease into the NFL. Drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, out of UCLA in 2025, he started immediately and never looked back. He finished his first year with 156 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and three passes defended. Those tackle totals ranked sixth in the entire league.
The numbers tell only part of the story. He was the tone-setter in a Browns front seven that already featured Garrett wreaking havoc up front. Schwesinger cleaned up runs, blitzed quarterbacks and showed the range to drop into coverage and make plays on the ball. Highlights from the year included a pick off Lamar Jackson, a sack on Josh Allen and a violent hit-stick pass breakup that forced a fourth down against the Bengals.
His peers noticed. The Top 100 list is voted on by NFL players themselves. Landing at 93 as a second-year player after one full season speaks volumes about the respect he built in real time.
Key 2025 Season Stats
| Category | 2025 Total |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 156 |
| Tackles for Loss | 11 |
| Sacks | 2.5 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Passes Defended | 3 |
From Walk-On to Defensive Rookie of the Year
The path here was never guaranteed. Schwesinger arrived at UCLA as a walk-on and worked his way into an All-American. That same motor and football IQ carried straight into the pros. He earned the 2025 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in February, becoming the centerpiece of a Browns defense that suddenly had back-to-back Defensive Rookie of the Year winners when paired with edge rusher Jared Verse.
Browns fans felt the shift last season. After years of defensive inconsistency, they watched a young linebacker fly sideline to sideline, make every tackle within reach and still find ways to impact the passing game. The stadium energy changed when Schwesinger was around the ball — sudden, violent, and usually ending with the runner on the ground or the quarterback under pressure.
What the Ranking Signals Heading Into 2026
This No. 93 placement is more than a nice honor. It marks Schwesinger as a building block the league’s own players believe in. At 23 years old, still early in his prime, he enters the 2026 season with momentum and a target on his back. Defenses will scheme for him now. Quarterbacks will know his name.
No. 93 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@Browns LB Carson Schwesinger! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/mam7nlaoz2
— NFL (@NFL) June 25, 2026
The Browns, meanwhile, get to roll out a linebacker who already plays like a veteran and a front that includes Garrett and Verse. That combination alone creates nightmares for opposing offenses.
Schwesinger has not said much publicly yet about the new ranking — the news is still fresh. But his on-field personality has always spoken louder than words. He plays with a quiet intensity that shows up in every rep.
The countdown continues. More names will drop in the coming weeks as the NFL builds toward the full Top 100 reveal. For now, Cleveland has its first representative on the list, and it belongs to a 23-year-old who turned a second-round pick into one of the fastest ascents in recent memory.