Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry deserves a ton of credit for identifying and drafting Carson Schwesinger last offseason. After an incredible rookie campaign that ended with a Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, Schwesinger is already one of the Browns biggest stars. 

Meanwhile, as Devin Bush took his talents to Chicago this offseason, the Browns identified a worthy replacement in Quincy Williams to place next to Schwesinger. His energy figures to be a guiding light for Cleveland's defense as a whole. 

And yet, like so many years before it, linebacker feels like a position that just lacks meaningful depth. Here's what to expect from the second level of the Browns defense. 

MLB: Carson Schwesinger, Justin Jefferson, Nathaniel Watson, Edefuan Ulophoshio

WLB: Quincy Williams, Winston Reid, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Reid Carrico

When the Browns drafted Carson Schwesinger in the second round of last year's draft, no one could have imaged just how good he'd be. One year later, he's the reinging Defensive Rookie of the Year and has already cemented himself as a cornerstone of the team's future. 

I suppose there could be a question regarding whether or not he overperformed and could be due for some regression in year two, and while some regression is always somewhat reasonable, everyone trusts that Schwesinger is the real deal. 

The bigger questions lies in the depth of this group and who else can emerge, beyond Schwesinger and veteran Quincy Williams to be key contributors in the middle of the defense.

Fifth-round pick Justin Jefferson seems poised for a decent workload on defense and special teams. Reid and Watson remain notable special teams contributors as well. In general, though, this group is extremely top-heavy one injury to Schwesinger or Williams could be devastating. 

Schwesinger picks up where he left off in 2025 and continues to assert himself as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL. Together, he and Williams form one of the best linebacker tandems in football, performing even better than the duo of Schwesinger and Bush that thrived together last season. 

Behind them, another player or two break out to become a consistent contributor for the team, making the team's depth at the position a non-issue. Ideally, Jefferson is one of those, as he turns into a promising Day 3 pick by Berry. 

A sophomore slump ensues for Schwesinger as he struggles to produce at or near the high bar he set for himself in year one. Despite his familiarity with Mike Rutenberg's defense the Williams signing turns out not to be a fruitful one as he can't match Bush's impact. 

Meanwhile, the depth behind those two does become a problem, as no reliable rotational players surface. Injuries potentially force the guys down the depth chart to play more than Cleveland hopes, and the group becomes a weakness. That includes Jefferson, who ends up looking more like a day three pick than a promising prospect. 

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