Former UCLA football linebacker Carson Schwesinger was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday evening.

After a quiet first night for the Bruins, Schwesinger put UCLA on the board Friday – and he might not be the last. 

He could be the first of a linebacker trio to make the jump to the NFL, with Oluwafemi Oladejo expected to hear his name later tonight and Kain Medrano likely waiting until Day 3.

Though undersized for a linebacker at 225 pounds and once overlooked as a walk-on, Schwesinger quickly became the anchor of the Bruin defense. Fueled by sharp instincts, explosive athleticism and an unrelenting motor, he rounded out a breakout final season in Westwood with 163 total tackles, 90 solo tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss – a performance that likely erased doubts about his path to the pros. 

Built more on versatility and intelligence than sheer measurables, Schwesinger earned steady praise from scouts for his sharp play recognition, ability to slip through traffic and range from sideline to sideline. His 2024 campaign all but solidified his draft stock, as he piled up national honors – earning AP First Team All-American distinctions, a spot as a Butkus Award Finalist and a member of the All-Big Ten First Team. 

And combatting his undersized build, Schwesinger thrived as both a run-stopper and in pass coverage, proving his ability to transition from clogging gaps to defending tight ends and running backs – making him a coveted prospect in today’s increasingly space-driven NFL. 

Schweisnger stuffed the stat sheet at a historic pace, leading all Power Four defenders in tackles per game, posting the most double-digit tackle performances by a Bruin since Eric Kendricks in 2014 and becoming the first UCLA player to record a 100-tackle season since 2018. His game thrived on sharp instincts, quick diagnosis and a burst through contact that few could match. 

The UCLA star’s closing speed and clean tackling technique made Schwesinger one of the most reliable open-field defenders in the Big Ten. Through his three years competing in Westwood – particularly in the 2024 season – he anticipated routes and disrupted plays before they could fully develop. 

In the professional ranks, Schwesinger projects as a versatile chess piece who can immediately contribute on special teams – where he began at UCLA – and rotate into a mainstay in defensive lineups. As he adjusts to the speed of the league, his high football IQ and disciplined approach should give him a strong chance to carve out an early role, with the upside to eventually develop into a starting-caliber linebacker. 

The Browns will welcome a linebacker who checks every box for today’s NFL – tough, instinctive and constructed for the demands of a hybrid defense. Schwesinger now becomes the latest in a growing line of UCLA defenders to make the leap to the pros, arriving with a refined game and a reputation for raising the standard around him.

Schwesinger started at Spaulding Field as a walk-on with no guarantees. 

He left as a team captain, a cornerstone of the Bruin defense and one of the nation’s most productive linebackers. 

Now, the long shot from UCLA is officially bound for the NFL.