Was it a Reach?: Carson Schwesinger

Was it a Reach

Many years ago, I created Why the Slide and Why Undrafted in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects were selected lower or not drafted at all in the NFL Draft. This year, I thought to expand to see if a player was a reach. The answer to whether a player was a reach is as simple as the player was valued at that spot by the team that drafted him. However, other teams may not agree with that grade, so I thought I would check if certain players were actual reaches in the NFL Draft.

For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out where their teams valued this player. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media’s expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?” and now, “Was it a Reach?”

Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.

Every year in college football, there are players who come out of nowhere to turn themselves into top prospects for the next NFL Draft, and UCLA linebacker Carson Scheswinger was one of those stars last year. In an outstanding year for the Bruins, Schwesginer totaled 136 tackles with four sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and three passes broken up. He turned himself into an early-round prospect, but some were surprised when he almost went in the first round as Schwesginer went 33rd overall and was the opening selection of the second round.

In speaking to team sources, they did not think Schwesginer was a reach at pick 33. In fact, sources at some teams picking in the top 20 of the first round had Schwesginer as a potential target if they had decided to trade down. Linebackers tend to slide in the draft, but sources at other teams felt that Schwesginer was a worthy prospect for the selection at 33.

The Cleveland Browns fell in love with Schwesinger to make him the opening pick in the second round. The Browns could be starting Schwesinger in Week 1 of the 2025 season next to Jordan Hicks. Schwesinger will have to beat out veterans Jerome Baker and Devin Bush, which should not be hard. Even if he doesn’t beat them out right away, it shouldn’t be long before Schwesinger turns into a starter, and he could be a tremendous linebacker in Cleveland with good talent in front of him and behind him in the Browns’ secondary. Schwesinger could end up being an excellent value for the Browns at pick 33.