Carson Schwesinger’s season of excellence didn’t stop when the games ended.
The Browns linebacker was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America, it was announced Tuesday. He’s the favorite to be named Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors on Feb. 5.
Schwesinger is the first Browns player to win the award since the PFWA established it in 1974.
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He was joined on the PFWA All-Rookie team by defensive tackle Mason Graham.
Schwesinger was the No. 33 pick out of UCLA, where he began his career as a walk-on and started only one season. He immediately impressed Browns coaches and teammates and was inserted in the starting lineup. When veteran Jordan Hicks retired at the start of training camp, Schwesinger became the signal caller.
He started 16 games — he missed the finale with a quadriceps injury — and led NFL rookies with 146 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The total tackles ranked eighth in the league. He added two interceptions, 2.5 sacks and three passes defensed.
He had double-digit tackles in seven games, including six straight, the longest streak in the league this season. The seven double-digit-tackle games were the most among rookies.
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He was the only linebacker in the league with at least 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
He was voted a Pro Bowl alternate.
“He’s playing at a really high level,” safety Grant Delpit said during the season. “And it’s no secret, everybody knows it.
“I saw it early, I ain’t going to lie. I saw early at camp, I think everybody saw. We knew that he was going to be around the ball a lot. He’s around that ball, so it’s inspiring. Makes everybody else want to make plays, too.”
Schwesinger played through a high ankle sprain throughout the second half of the season, earning even more respect from coaches and teammates.
“It’s really been an honor to coach that kid,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who’s a candidate for the head coaching job, said during the final week of the season. “It’s easy for me, but he’s done everything — and he’s played extremely tough, going back to the ankle sprain. But he’s been all over the injury report. He prepares the same, he goes out and plays effectively.
“And he’s been a good leader for us — he’s increased that as the season’s gone on, and I look forward to seeing him even take greater strides as a player. Really a cement block for our defense and I think Defensive Rookie of the Year.”
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Graham was the No. 5 pick out of Michigan. He started all 17 games, compiling 48 tackles, including seven for loss, a half-sack, four quarterback hits and four passes defensed.
The Browns defense ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and third in passing yards.
Running back Quinshon Judkins, the No. 36 pick out of Ohio State, was a strong candidate after rushing for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games, but New England’s TreVeyon Henderson and Las Vegas’ Ashton Jeanty were picked for the All-Rookie team. Henderson and Judkins were teammates at Ohio State.
Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 pick out of Arizona, was the PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and the overall Rookie of the Year. He started all 17 games and caught 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.
