Browns sign two players to rookie deals

Like many other teams in the NFL on Friday, the Browns got started with signing some of their 2025 NFL Draft picks. The team announced that second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger and fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson had signed their four-year rookie contracts.

Starting his collegiate career as a walk-on at UCLA, Schwesinger didn’t become a starter for the Bruins until this past year. After only logging 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in his first two years in Los Angeles, Schwesinger exploded onto the scene in 2024. In 10 starts, he tallied 136 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

Though Devin Bush is dealing with an assault and harassment charge, he, Jordan Hicks, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Mohamoud Diabate are all set to return as main contributors at the position in 2024. While Owusu-Koramoah (7th), Bush (9th), and Hicks (11th) all graded out extremely well out of 84 players graded at the position in 2023, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Diabate (74th) could easily be improved upon this year. Cleveland will count on Schwesinger to push Diabate for that role as a fourth linebacker or fill in should Bush miss any time because of his legal issues.

Like Schwesinger, Sampson didn’t become a starter until this past season. Despite only starting zero games as a true freshman, he logged 397 yards and six touchdowns on just 58 carries. The next year, he only started one game but toted the ball 106 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns. Finally, a full-time starter in 2024, Sampson ran the ball 258 times for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games.

After a year in which the Browns ranked 29th in rushing and failed to see a running back eclipse 600 yards on the ground, Sampson enters a wide-open situation. Jerome Ford returns as the lead back from last year, with Nick Chubb unlikely to return, as does Pierre Strong, who enters the final year of his rookie deal. Sampson will compete with fellow rookies Quinshon Judkins (second round) and Ahmani Marshall (undrafted) to push Ford and Strong for big roles in 2024.

Here’s a look at the Browns’ draft class, including the two new signees:

• Round 1, No. 5 (from Jaguars): Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
• Round 2, No. 33: Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA) (signed)
• Round 2, No. 36 (from Jaguars): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
• Round 3, No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green)
• Round 3, No. 94 (from Bills): Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oregon)
• Round 4, No. 126 (from Vikings through Jaguars): Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 144 (from Patriots through Seahawks): Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)