now that We’re three-quarters of the way through the NFL season, and ESPN is getting ready for it playoffs by giving rewards Fans can get a glimpse of which players are at the top of all their rosters. It’s no surprise that the Cleveland Browns will feature prominently on any roster regarding prospects this season, given the team’s 2025 NFL Draft class.
Defensive lineman Mason Graham is coming off a strong performance, linebacker Carson Schwesinger appears to be a lock for Defensive Rookie of the Year (after winning November’s Rookie of the Month award), running back Quinshon Judkins becomes a major cog in the offense, and TE Harold Fannin Jr. takes over as the team’s top tight end.
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RB Dylan Sampson had a solid performance, while Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel still had time to make an impact.
RELATED: Shade Sanders enters big stage
As it happens, both players were selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft: LB Carson Schweizer and RB Quinshon Judkins. The duo has been a key part of the team and both were closely watched when they were drafted.
Here is ESPN’s top 10 rookie list:
#1 LB Carson Schwesinger – Browns
Author Jeff Legwold tells their story:
Schweizer, a former backup at UCLA, is now a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. In coordinator Jim Schwartz’s defense, he’s processing at the same speed as a former bioengineering major. His physical attributes helped Schweizer finish in the top 11 in the NFL in total tackles. Of those players, Schweizer had the most tackles (10) and the most quarterback hits (six).
So far this season, with five games remaining, Schweizer has started 12 times and has totaled 106 tackles (ranked 9th), 10 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 6 pressures, 3 knockdowns, 1 hurry, and 8 missed tackles. If you assume that the numbers for missed steals are high, then seven of the top 20 steals have double-digit steals.
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#8 RB Quinshane Judkins – Browns
Article by writer Kalyn Kahler:
Despite missing Week 1 in Cleveland, Judkins appeared in our initial rookie rankings three weeks later. He’s back on the roster after taking over the leadoff role vacated by Nick Chubb (now with the Texans). Judkins has touched the ball more than 20 times in five games and is the only reliable player on a team that ranks fourth in the league in scoring (16.2 points per game).
The running back has been a blessing to the offense this season. His numbers include 11 starts, 196 carries for 758 yards, 46 first downs, seven touchdowns, an average of 3.9 yards per carry, 17 receptions for 88 yards, four first downs, and zero fumbles.
In this past April’s NFL draft, Browns general manager Andrew Berry received the No. 1 pick in the second round, often referred to as “first-round talent second-round bonus.” After the first round ended and continued on opening night, Berry fielded calls from numerous clubs who wanted a player who had exited the first round but was still on the board.
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Berry was a famous trader. Oddly enough, he retained the draft pick. Maybe the offer isn’t good enough. Maybe he personally scouted one or two of the athletes projected in the first round and saw the value. Then again, maybe he zeroed in on a player he couldn’t trust while sitting at No. 33 and listening to his gut.
Berry then selected LB Schweizer from UCLA. The player leads the nation in solo tackles (90). He’s a bit bigger than the average linebacker in today’s draft and better suited to the more muscular guys of the 1980s, as Schweizer is 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds.
Schweizeringer is expected to be drafted in the bottom half of the second round, specifically pick #53. It was noted that he possesses outstanding processing speed and intelligence that will give him a chance to be a starter and impact his ability as a MIKE or WILL linebacker in a 4-3 defense like Cleveland’s.
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But Schwarzenegger’s direct advance to the No. 1 pick in the second round wasn’t a surprise, as Berry passed on players still on the board: quarterback Shaddell Sanders, wide receivers Jaden Higgins, S’Nick Emmanvory, wide receiver T.J. Sanders, wide receiver Luther Burden and wide receiver Aireonta Ethery.
All of these players are certainly at positions of need for the Browns, not necessarily linebacker. Jock is back. Jordan Hicks is one of the best tacklers in the league. Devin Bush is back on the scene.
As for Judkins, Browns fans are still mourning not re-signing Nick Chubb. No one wants to hear – or see – that he will actually be replaced. No sir, bring Chubb back is the mantra.
Additionally, many in the media suggested that Cleveland actually drafted the wrong Ohio State running back and should have selected Judkins’ teammate Tre’Vion Henderson, who was selected late in the second round.
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Judkins is more of a beast with his back, while Henderson is smooth and fast. But when you look at career college statistics, Judkins’ numbers really stand out. Still, a large number of Browns fans are also die-hard Ohio State fans and know their players. Henderson is that guy, not Judkins.
But Henderson’s NFL numbers are slightly inferior to Judkins. He had just 625 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, he has played in two more games than Judkins and has lost the ball once.
This draft class in Cleveland is a special one. The jury is still out on quarterbacks Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, but both defensive players Berry caught are key components of the Browns defense as TE Harold Fanning is having a good season.