In a class that lacks depth at the linebacker position, UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger will be highly coveted in the 2025 NFL Draft. Schwesinger has the athletic ability and versatility that teams will value at the second level of the defense.
Carson Schwesinger’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2 1/2″
- Weight: 242 pounds
- Position: Linebacker
- School: UCLA
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
Schwesinger’s Scouting Report
Schwesinger is from Moorpark, Calif., and attended high school at Oaks Christian High School. He was a good high school player but was under the radar as far as recruiting went and ended up walking on at UCLA.
After redshirting his true freshman season, Schwesinger saw the field as a key special teams player as a redshirt freshman. He had a similar role as a redshirt sophomore and saw the field on defense only occasionally. Heading into his redshirt junior season, Schwesinger was named team captain and earned a role as the starting linebacker.
He enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, starting 10 games at linebacker for the UCLA Bruins. He was named a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award and also earned CSN first-team All-American honors. After just one year of starting experience, Schwesinger declared for the NFL Draft at the end of his redshirt junior season.
Strengths
- Outstanding instincts to read and react in both the run and passing game.
- Fluid athlete who can move laterally and change direction.
- Very good tackler in the open field.
- Excellent short-area quickness, body control, and flexibility to slip and avoid blockers in the box.
- Outstanding blitzer who can time his rush and explode to the quarterback.
- Very good zone-coverage defender who covers a lot of ground in his zone drops.
Weaknesses
- One year of starting experience will give cause for concern.
- His take on ability is just average and he can be engulfed by ensuing blockers when he faces them head-on.
- He can be fooled in coverage on fakes and play-action, and he will allow receivers behind him.
- Struggles to shed blocks when he is engaged.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
The linebacker position has seen plenty of change in how NFL teams value it regarding general team building. Gone are the days of true run-only enforcers at the second level and here are the days of linebackers who can not just stop the run but also run and cover. UCLA’s Schwesinger is an athletic linebacker who fits the current mold of a modern-day linebacker in the NFL.
Schwesinger is a ball magnet who is constantly around the football. He is just a one-year starter at UCLA but put enough on tape to warrant an early-round selection. Physically, he is what you want for a second-level defender as he flashes above-average size and athleticism. He is a versatile player who was asked to do a lot in UCLA’s multiple defensive scheme.
As a run defender, Schwesinger excels with his eyes, instincts, and short-area quickness. He can decipher the play and read runs almost instantly, and he understands run concepts to ensure he can flow to the correct spot. He is quick to trigger and flashes an outstanding ability to slip and evade blockers, utilizing a unique blend of body control and short-area agility.
He is a good tackler overall and flashes good physicality when in 1-on-1 situations with a ball carrier. A rangy athlete, Schwesinger can run sideline to sideline and usually can beat backs to the outside. He has good length to make plays outside of his frame and consistently works to get the ball carrier to the ground.
Not the thickest of linebackers, Schwesinger can get engulfed by ensuing blockers at the point of attack. There were multiple times on tape that he was washed out of the play when pulling guards could square him up. He must get better at using his hands to stack and shed blockers to keep himself alive in the play.
The instincts and overall athleticism shine in the passing game as well, both in coverage and as a rusher. He is a smooth and fluid athlete who moves very well in space. He takes good zone drops, taking proper depth and angles. He can break on throws in front of him and is fast to close to the football. There are times when Schwesinger lets his eyes get the best of him and can be fooled by pump fakes, play-action passes, and trick plays.
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He is a much better zone defender than a man-coverage player. and quicker slot receivers could cause him issues at the next level if he is forced to play in those situations. As a blitzer, Schwesinger’s anticipation, quickness, and physicality shine as he can time the snap perfectly and get a jump on his rush. He shows a very good ability to finish and can rush from anywhere around the line of scrimmage.
Overall, Schwesinger is a higher energy player who is constantly around the football. He is an instinctive and athletic defender who will shine in today’s modern NFL defenses. While the lack of experience and take on ability are fair concerns, the upside with this player is exciting. Expect Schwesinger to go off the board extremely early in Round 2.