Carson Schwesinger

Browns Draft Carson Schwesinger At No. 33

April 25th, 2025 at 6:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns have kicked off the second night of the draft with a defensive addition. UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been selected with the No. 33 pick.

Cleveland was in position to take Travis Hunter second overall last night, but the team’s long-negotiated trade with the Jaguars became official. As a result, the Browns acquired capital for this year and next and added along the defensive line by selecting Michigan’s Mason Graham. Today’s opening pick marks another selection aimed at upgrading the front seven.

Schwesinger was a no-star recruit who failed to start a game during his first two seasons in college. As a result, it would have been seen as a surprise at the start of the 2024 campaign that he would be drafted early on Day 2. Given how the season played out, though, the junior entered the pre-draft process as the consensus No. 2 linebacker prospect in this year’s class. Jihaad Campbell (Eagles) went 31st overall yesterday, and Schwesinger has come off the board shortly thereafter.

In 2024, Schwesinger’s production erupted with 136 tackles (including 8.5 for loss), four sacks and a pair of interceptions. His work in coverage in particular led to a dramatic rise in his draft stock. The first-team All-American profiles as a candidate to see plenty of playing time early in his career as he looks to help a defense which ranked just 21st in the NFL against the run last season.

A neck injury limited Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to eight games in 2024, and his return timeline remains unclear at this point. The Browns hope to have him back in the fold at some point next season, but Schwesinger could step into a starting gig early on if Week 1 does not prove to be feasible. In any case, the latter will be expected to operate as a core defender in Cleveland for years to come.

NFC Draft Rumors: Cardinals, Bears, Loveland, Commanders, Coleman, Panthers

April 24th, 2025 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pass rushers and guards have come up as early-round Cardinals targets, but the team also appears to be strongly considering using a first-round pick on a wide receiver for a second straight year. Arizona is believed to want to add an impact weapon to its receiving corps, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller. Arizona did not come off No. 4 overall, despite trade interest, last year, leading to Marvin Harrison Jr. heading to the desert. The Cardinals have Michael Wilson as a capable auxiliary option, but Miller points to offensive “firepower” being the team’s top priority heading into the draft. This is not viewed as a strong wide receiver class; options will still be available to Arizona at No. 16. The Cowboys have been closely tied to Tetairoa McMillan at 12, but Matthew Golden (he of a 4.29-second 40 clocking), Luther Burden and ex-Harrison college teammate Emeka Egbuka could well be available.

Here is the latest from some NFC draft blueprints:

The Bears‘ interest in Ashton Jeanty is either a elaborate smokescreen or quite legitimate, but if the 2024 Heisman runner-up is not available, Chicago has also been tied to rounding out its skill-position corps with a tight end pick. As the Colts would seemingly monitor this draft slot closely (due to their reported interest in the position), Miller adds the Bears are believed to have Colston Loveland slotted higher than Tyler Warren on their big board. This does not appear a universal view, as SI.com’s Albert Breer sends Warren to Chicago in his final mock draft. The Chargers, at 22, are Loveland’s rumored floor. The Colts, at 14, are expected to have a major say in where the two Big Ten-developed TE prospects go.
Favored to become a Patriot, Will Campbell is unlikely to be available for Chicago at No. 10. But the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser notes the team informed the LSU product he would play left tackle were he to wind up in the Windy City. This may not be relevant to the Bears’ No. 10 overall slot, but it seems pertinent to Braxton Jones‘ future. The three-year Bears LT starter is recovering from an ankle injury, one likely to prevent him from starting training camp on time, and entering a contract year.
Holding a pick two spots earlier, the Panthers are interested in trading down. In fact, Breer adds Carolina is “doing everything they can” to move down. The Panthers were mentioned as a team considering taking a less-than-ideal offer to move down from No. 8, as the team can still be classified as rebuilding — especially after circling back to Bryce Young following the September benching. While linked closely to Jalon Walker, Carolina sounds open for business — in a draft not featuring many teams angling to move into the top 10.
The Commanders added Laremy Tunsil and kept Andrew Wylie (via a pay-cut agreement), but they are still interested in bolstering their O-line in Round 1. The team is interested in adding a starter here, ESPN.com’s John Keim notes, indicating the team has shown interest in Alabama guard Tyler Booker and Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The team’s Tunsil addition will allow for a Brandon Coleman (12 rookie-year left tackle starts) move to right tackle, Keim adds, but the draft will determine the team’s strategy here. Washington has Wylie signed for one more season and has eight-figure-per-year interior linemen Sam Cosmi and Tyler Biadasz. Left guard and right tackle appear areas the team will explore upgrading, however.
If the Commanders do not like the blockers available at No. 29, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter connects them to UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Also a potential Bills target, Schwesinger profiles as a potential late first-rounder. The team re-signed Bobby Wagner and saw Frankie Luvu make significant contributions after signing in 2024. Wagner, however, will be 35 soon and is attached to another one-year contract.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Bills, Banks

April 22nd, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Consistently given Will Campbell in mock drafts (including ours), the Patriots may not be locked into the left tackle the way the Titans are with Cam Ward at No. 1. Eleventh-hour Pats connections to Georgia hybrid defender Jalon Walker are emerging, via Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline. Mike Vrabel has mentioned left tackle as a place the draft can provide an answer, and Pats-Campbell ties have persisted during the pre-draft process. Several reports have suggested the LSU product will be the Patriot pick. Walker recently auditioned for scouts, and Pauline adds the Pats sent a sizable contingent to a workout that also featured Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams. Pats brass soon dined with Walker, Pauline adds.

Showing the ability to be an edge defender and off-ball linebacker, Walker is expected to go off the board early. The Pats, who inquired about Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby this offseason, came up previously in connection to passing on Campbell to draft a pass rusher. With Abdul Carter likely going to Cleveland or New York, New England would be shut out from this draft’s top prospect tier at 4. Campbell should probably still be considered the favorite to go fourth overall, but it is not a lock.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

Also viewing Campbell as the Pats’ most likely pick, SI.com’s Albert Breer mentions Walker as a wild card. But the veteran reporter also points to a New England desire to accumulate more draft capital — even if it is unable to move off No. 4 (in a draft without a QB prompting aggressive trade-up offers like last year’s brought for the Pats). Kayshon Boutte, months after voicing frustration with his role, could be a player the team would consider moving to acquire an extra pick. Two years remain on the 2023 sixth-round receiver’s rookie contract.
Having seen four teammates (Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, Christian Benford) receive early-offseason extension, James Cook is not joining his teammates for the start of the Bills‘ offseason program, Brandon Beane confirmed (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) Tuesday. Cook skipping voluntary work is not surprising; he has been upfront about his desire for an upper-crust extension this offseason. The Bills have viewed the breakout RB as a core player, but it remains to be seen if they will give the multipurpose back a deal in the $15MM-AAV range. Early talks have not brought progress. One season remains on Cook’s contract. While the Bills did pay former Day 2 picks Devin Singletary or Zack Moss, Cook has been a better player and is one of this year’s top extension candidates.
Extending Bernard and keeping Matt Milano via a pay-cut agreement, the Bills are in decent shape at linebacker. They are still being mentioned (via Schefter) as a team that could use a premium draft pick on the position. Holding the No. 30 overall choice, Buffalo is being tied to UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger. Milano having missed the bulk of the past two seasons does give Buffalo a bit of a need here, but the team has been more closely tied to other defensive positions in Round 1.
Another injury-prone player who once earned All-Pro acclaim in Buffalo, Tre’Davious White is back. Discarded in 2024, White spent the season with the Rams and Ravens. Although White has seen the injury trouble move him off the surefire starter tier, he has another chance in Buffalo. He said (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg) following the Ravens’ divisional-round loss to the Bills that he began letting the team know he was interested in returning. At 30, White now profiles as a flier for a Bills team likely still looking for CB help.
The Dolphins have done plenty of D-tackle work leading up to this draft, but ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter also links Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. to Miami at No. 13. Banks’ stock looks to have climbed late, as he has been tied to going as high as the Raiders at No. 6 or the Jets at 7. Miami has Patrick Paul prepared to replace Terron Armstead, as Austin Jackson remains at RT.

Draft Rumors: Golden, Lions, Texans, Bolts, Broncos, Commanders, Raiders, Browns, Saints, Seahawks, Loveland, Panthers

April 17th, 2025 at 7:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Matthew Golden‘s 4.29-second 40-yard dash showing at the Combine helped solidify him as one of this draft class’ top receiver prospects. Not quite a first-round pick in Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft, Golden has landed on the radar as a candidate to go on Day 1. The former Houston and Texas wideout has met with the Broncos, Buccaneers, Packers and Cowboys; he made some more trips before this week’s “30” visit deadline. Golden met with the Lions, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, and stopped through the Chargers and Texans‘ facilities, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Golden as his No. 16 overall prospect, despite the talented pass catcher not posting a 1,000-yard season in college. He will almost definitely become the third Texas receiver drafted in the first or second round in two years, following Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.

A week out, here is the latest from the draft:

Golden submitted the second-fastest 40 time at the Combine; Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was fastest, at 4.28. Jeremiah’s No. 35 overall prospect, Hairston made some late visits as well. He also met with the Lions, while also spending time at the Commanders and Raiders‘ facilities, according to Rapoport. Finally, his tour included a Broncos meeting Tuesday, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Among pure corners (non-Travis Hunter division), Jeremiah ranks Hairston behind only Jahdae Barron (Texas) and Will Johnson (Michigan). Hairston intercepted five passes in 2023, amassing 131 return yards and two TDs. The 6-foot-1 CB added another pick-six last season.
Primarily linked to using their No. 20 overall pick on a skill-position player, the Broncos also used a “30” visit on Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Klis adds. The Broncos re-signed D.J. Jones (three years, $39MM) but have starters Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers in contract years. Both are believed to be on Denver’s extension radar, but the team has some post-2025 questions here.
The Texans also spoke with Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka via Zoom, Wilson notes. A quality slot receiver who played as a sidekick to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith in Columbus, Egbuka profiles as one of the safer picks at the position in this year’s draft. The slot weapon sandwiched an injury-limited 2023 season with 1,000-yard showings, helping the Buckeyes cover for Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s near-full-season absence in 2022. Egbuka also met with the Cowboys and Packers.
Shifting to the eight end market, Colston Loveland is expected to be a mid-first-round pick next week, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes, mentioning a 10-22 range in connection with the Wolverines standout. While not rivaling the monster stat line Tyler Warren produced last season, Loveland still made key contributions to Michigan’s 2023 national championship and has checked in consistently as this draft’s second-best tight end prospect. Loveland’s 56 catches set a Michigan TE record last year, and Schultz adds the high-level prospect has interviewed well. If Warren is off the board early, Loveland may not drop past the TE-needy Colts (No. 14).
Mason Taylor has made a case to become this draft’s third tight end selection. The younger brother of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason finished up his pre-draft visit schedule with Browns, Saints and Seahawks meetings, Schultz adds. Jeremiah’s No. 32 overall prospect, Taylor is part of a deep TE class. While the group may not match what 2023 brought, prospect-wise, the Warren-Loveland-Taylor-Elijah Arroyo contingent will generate considerable intrigue from teams who just saw a tight end (Brock Bowers) immediately become a team’s go-to target. Taylor caught 55 passes for 546 yards at LSU last season.
The Panthers completed a recent visit with UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Rapoport adds. Schwesinger was popular on the “30” circuit this year, already meeting with the Raiders after conducting a private pro day in L.A. earlier this month.

Raiders Arrange Visits With Shedeur Sanders, Will Campbell, Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger

April 10th, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

Set to select sixth overall, the Raiders find themselves in an interesting position as the countdown to the draft continues. The team could go in several different directions, and a number of first-round options are being examined through pre-draft visits.

Vegas lined up a large number of top-30 visits yesterday, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the group included LSU tackle Will Campbell and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Both prospects are viewed in the tier below presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward and the highly-regarded duo of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Depending on how the Patriots and Jaguars operate with the fourth and fifth selections, though, neither Campbell nor Graham may be available once Vegas is on the clock.

The Raiders’ work also included their previously-reported visit with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up has frequently been mentioned as a logical fit for Vegas given the team’s struggles on the ground last season and resultant need to find a long-term Josh Jacobs successor. Selecting Campbell or Graham instead would leave a vacancy in the backfield (at least until later in the draft), but it would help shore up the line of scrimmage for a team looking to rebound from a 4-13 season.

A large part of that effort has been the acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith. The trade sending him to the Raiders was recently followed by a two-year extension putting him on the books through 2027, but the team is still interested in exploring rookie signal-callers. Among those with a visit planned is Shedeur Sanders, per Breer. The Colorado passer’s Vegas meeting will take place on Monday, he adds.

Vegas has previously been connected to Sanders, whose stock remains a key talking point in advance of the draft. A fall out of the first round is not expected, but the strength of prospects at other positions for teams not immediately in need of a signal-caller could lead them in another direction. Still, the Browns and Giants have been linked to Sanders interest, and his visit with the Steelers (set to select 21st overall) today illustrates the extent of his list of suitors.

Sanders is not the only QB prospect being looked into. As Breer notes, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard were present yesterday, along with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Those three passers face a wide range of draft outcomes, but Dart has gained steam for first-round consideration. Ewers and Howard are more logical targets if Vegas – now led by head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and (to a notable extent) minority owner Tom Brady – plans to wait until after Day 1 to add a quarterback .

Also present for Wednesday’s prospect summit was Carson Schwesinger, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. The UCLA product is seen as one of the top linebackers in the 2025 class, and he is slated to hear his name called sometime in the second round. Vegas owns pick No. 37, which could be used on Schwesinger based in part on how yesterday’s visit went. With respect to the team’s top selection, though, several options are on the table and are receiving consideration.

2025 NFL Draft Visits: Schwesinger, Cowboys, Nolen, Ezeiruaku, Burden, Turner, Bond, Steelers, Emmanwori

April 6th, 2025 at 10:14pm CST by Ely Allen

This isn’t exactly a visit in the sense of top-30 visits, like most of the rest of bullets that follow this will be, but UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger held a private pro day earlier this week in Los Angeles and had 30 teams in attendance, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

While, obviously, not a comprehensive list, Schefter specifically mentions the Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Chargers, and Broncos, and notes that the linebackers coaches from Dallas, New York, and New Orleans all met privately with Schwesinger.

Schwesinger is not currently the top-ranked linebacker prospect in most analysts’ eyes, but he often slides in as the second-best off-ball linebacker in the class behind Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell — third if you count Georgia defender Jalon Walker, who has the ability to play every linebacker spot at the next level. Some thought Schwesinger may sneak into the back end of the first round at the end of the month, but more likely is that he hears his name on Day 2. Per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, it would be surprising to see him fall past the first half of the second round.

Here are some more prospect-NFL team connections we’ve seen recent reports on:

The Cowboys have certainly been very busy in the runup to the 2025 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team held their invite-only “Dallas Day,” hosting draft prospects without the visits counting towards their top-30 visits. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton met with the team at “Dallas Day.” The well-balanced rusher continues to skyrocket up draft boards, is likely to join Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and has several other visits lined up.
Jeanty was also in attendance on Friday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. We had relayed that Jeanty would be taking a top-30 visit with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear whether this is what was meant in that original report. Also in attendance for “Dallas Day” were Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, TCU wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Texas quarterback and offensive lineman Quinn Ewers and Cameron Williams, and Miami tight end and running back Elijah Arroyo and Damien Martinez.
Also in attendance at “Dallas Day” was Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Nolen will follow up his Dallas visit with a visit with the Panthers on Monday and a visit with the Bengals some other time this week.
Joining Nolen in Carolina on Monday will be Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, per Joe Person of The Athletic. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been a hot topic with multiple scouts of late, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He’s currently viewed as an early-Day 2 prospect, and his stock continues to rise.
Speaking of another “Dallas Day” athlete, Wilson of KPRC 2 provided an updated list of teams that Turner, from Texas A&M, is set to visit with. We already noted his recent visit in New Orleans, but Wilson tells us that Turner has also visited the Texans and plans to visit the Ravens, Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Colts, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden for a top-30 visit last week. The talented wideout fell off in 2024 after an incredible sophomore campaign with the Tigers, but his high ceiling makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Denver would love to bring in another talented weapon for young quarterback Bo Nix.
We already reported recent visits for Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond in Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Los Angeles, but we now have a couple sources adding some new locations for the Longhorn. Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Bond had dinner with the Bills before a private workout Friday and a top-30 visit as well as visits with the Browns and Packers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Bond has visits scheduled with the Chiefs and Titans, as well.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN tells us that the Steelers hosted a full house on Thursday. Prospects on hand last week included Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
Lastly, Pryor adds that Pittsburgh was one of the recent teams to host South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The pre-draft standout had reportedly lined up visits with Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami already. The Steelers’ interest in the Gamecock is no surprise as he’s trending towards being a Day 1 selection at this point.