The Cleveland Browns finished the 2025 season off with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals that featured two defensive touchdowns and the 23rd record-breaking sack from Myles Garrett.
It was a fitting way to end the year, with the defense showing its playoff caliber, while the offense lagged behind significantly. One of the big reasons for the defense playing so well this year was rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
A Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite, Schwesinger has received plenty of praise in 2025. For ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell, the Browns' rookie linebacker was better than New York Giants star rookie Abdul Carter this season, giving Schewsinger the DROY award.
Browns' Carson Schwesinger named ESPN DROY
"The 33rd pick was rangy and ever-present for an excellent Browns defense," Barnwell writes. "... Schwesinger is already one of the better off-ball linebackers in the NFL and should have been a Pro Bowl pick in the AFC."
Carter was called a "superstar" by Barnwell, but he still gave the Defensive Rookie of the Year award to Schwesinger. While Carter was great, the Browns' rookie had a better, more impactful season than Carter.
This season, he played in 16 games, recording two interceptions, three passes defended, 2.5 sacks, 156 combined tackles, and 11 tackles for loss to go with nine quarterback hits.
Very few players had the impact he did as a rookie, and while Barnwell's award isn't the official Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Schewsinger is more than deserving of the actual NFL honor.
As Barnwell mentioned, he was snubbed from the Pro Bowl roster. A rookie linebacker, who was part of one of the better defensive units in the NFL, who was a Pro Bowl snub, is certainly deserving of such an NFL honor for his season.
Schewsinger was one of the best rookies in the NFL this season, regardless of offense, defense, or special teams production. Very few players can compare, and Carter, while he's shown superstar potential, didn't have as high-quality a season as the Browns' rookie LB did.
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