2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA

Should the Giants consider a linebacker?

The linebacker position has long been a sore point for the New York Giants, or at least it was up until the last couple years.

Recently, however, the Giants have fielded one of the better linebacker units in the NFL. But even so, the Giants may see linebacker as a future need. After all, Micah McFadden is heading into the final year of his rookie contract after a breakout season and could depart in free agency.

UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger was one of the best linebackers in the country and coming off of a breakout season of his own. He led the FBS in solo tackles and was a factor in almost every play by the end of the year.

Could the Giants look at Schwesinger as an option to eventually replace McFadden or Bobby Okereke?

Prospect: Carson Schwesinger (49)
Games Watched: vs. LSU (2024), vs. Penn State (2024), vs. USC (2024)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths

Best traits

• Range
• Urgency
• Football IQ
• Athleticism
• Communication

Carson Schwesinger is a good-sized, athletic, instinctive, and highly productive linebacker prospect.

Schwesinger has near-prototypical size for a modern linebacker at 6-foot 2 ½ inches tall, 242 pounds, while also having the athleticism to play in space against a modern offense. He’s a very fluid mover in space, easily getting depth on his zone drops and roaming a broad swath of field in coverage. Schwesinger has surprisingly quick feet and fluid hips for a linebacker and can run with most tight ends and running backs in space. Likewise, he has a quick downhill trigger, a good burst, and is able to knife through gaps in run defense.

He has a high football IQ and is an active communicator in the pre-snap phase of the play and also typically takes an accurate first step. Schwesinger does a good job of anticipating and moving toward the play, further boosting his play speed.

Schewsinger is an urgent player with a frenetic play style that sees him constantly moving. He’s always around the play and was an absolute tackling machine in his breakout 2024 season. Last year Schwesinger led the FBS in solo tackles (90), while also notching another 46 assists, 9 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

• Block deconstruction

Schwesinger has few real weaknesses in his game, however he’s also a work in progress. He only played in 7 games prior to the 2024 season with just 101 snaps in 2022 and 2023 combined.

His block deconstruction, in particular, stands out as an area in which he’ll need to improve early in his pro career. He had a tendency to simply ram his shoulder into blockers early in the 2024 season. And while his hand usage improved in later games, he still tends to lean on his speed as opposed to technique.

Continuing to improve that facet of his game will allow him to fully act on his instincts and reads, employ his athleticism, and reach his ceiling.

Game Tape

(Schwesinger is the UCLA linebacker wearing number 49 and the white sleeve on his left arm.)

Projection

Carson Schwesinger projects as an off-ball linebacker with starting upside at the NFL level.

Schwesinger might start his career as a WILL or nickel linebacker depending on the situation into which he’s drafted. He was rotated off the field in short-yardage situations early in the 2024 season, and that might be the case early in his pro career as well. Playing as a pure off-ball linebacker with coverage and pursuit responsibilities would allow Schwesinger to get on the field and impact the play without having to routinely take on offensive linemen.

Once Schwesinger’s hand usage catches up to his athleticism and football IQ, however, he should be able to earn a starting job as a MIKE, WILL, or SAM and be an every-down player.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes

Final Word: A Day 2 talent