Garrett and Schwesinger: Cleveland Browns Duo Headlines NFL Defensive Award Finalists

The NFL’s defensive elite have their spotlight, and the Cleveland Browns are shining brightly at its center. The finalists for the prestigious NFL and Associated Press awards for the 2025 season have been unveiled, and the Browns’ formidable defense, a unit that terrorized offenses all year, boasts two of its brightest stars in the running for top honors. In a testament to the team’s defensive dominance, edge rusher Myles Garrett and linebacker Carson Schwesinger have each earned finalist nods, putting the Dawg Pound on high alert for potential award-season glory. This dual recognition underscores a season where Cleveland’s defense wasn’t just a supporting cast; it was the main event.

A Legacy Chaser and a Breakout Star: The Finalists’ Paths Diverge and Converge

While both players wear the same uniform and contributed to the same historic defensive effort, their journeys to this moment are compellingly different. Myles Garrett, a name now synonymous with defensive player of the year conversations, finds himself in familiar territory. The perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate is once again a finalist, likely for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, seeking to add a second trophy to his mantle after his 2024 win. His season was, by any measure, spectacular—a blend of raw power, technical refinement, and game-wrecking plays that left offensive coordinators sleepless.

Conversely, Carson Schwesinger represents the explosive arrival of a new force. The second-year linebacker, after a solid rookie campaign, erupted onto the national scene in 2025. His finalist status is almost certainly for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, a category that celebrates immediate impact. Schwesinger’s nomination speaks to a season of relentless pursuit, sideline-to-sideline range, and a football IQ that belied his experience, making him the undisputed quarterback of the Browns’ complex defensive scheme.

Dissecting the Dominance: Case Files for Garrett and Schwesinger

To understand why these two players stand among the league’s finalists, one must look at the tape and the stats. Their value was not just in numbers, but in timing and intimidation.

Myles Garrett’s 2025 Campaign: Garrett continued to redefine the ceiling for a defensive end. Beyond the sack totals, which again placed him among the league leaders, his effect was multidimensional.

• Unblockable Presence: Garrett faced constant double and triple teams, yet his pressure rate remained elite. This attention created one-on-one opportunities for teammates, elevating the entire defensive line.
• Forced Turnovers: He mastered the strip-sack, punching the ball out at critical moments. His forced fumbles were not just stats; they were momentum-shifting, game-deciding plays.
• Run Defense Evolution: Once critiqued solely as a pass rusher, Garrett has become a stalwart against the run, using his length and power to set the edge and crush opposing rushing attacks.

Carson Schwesinger’s Breakout Season: Schwesinger didn’t just play; he commanded. From his middle linebacker spot, he was the engine and the brain.

• Tackling Machine: He amassed a staggering number of total tackles, but more impressively, his “stops” (tackles that constitute a failure for the offense) led the league for linebackers.
• Coverage Revelation: In a passing league, Schwesinger’s ability to match tight ends and running backs in coverage was a strategic weapon. His interceptions and pass breakups were a bonus from a position not known for them.
• Defensive Play-Calling: Taking the green-dot helmet, he orchestrated the defense with the poise of a veteran, making pre-snap adjustments that consistently put his unit in the right place.

The Competition and Expert Predictions

While Browns fans will rightly back their stars, the competition is fierce. For the Defensive Player of the Year award, Garrett will face other dominant forces like San Francisco’s Nick Bosa, who had a resurgent season, and perhaps a lockdown cornerback like Sauce Gardner, whose mere presence eliminates half the field. Garrett’s edge may come from the narrative of sustained excellence and his tangible impact on the league’s top-ranked defense. The prediction here is that Myles Garrett will secure his second Defensive Player of the Year award. The consistency of dominance, coupled with the Browns’ team defensive success, provides a compelling package for voters.

The Defensive Rookie of the Year race is equally tantalizing. Schwesinger will contend with other instant-impact rookies, likely including a flashy edge rusher from the draft’s top end and a ball-hawking safety. However, Schwesinger’s case is built on volume, leadership, and being the centerpiece of a elite unit—not just a bright spot on a bad team. His all-around game gives him a slight edge over specialists. The prediction is that Carson Schwesinger will be named Defensive Rookie of the Year. The combination of statistical production, defensive responsibility, and team success is a trifecta too powerful for voters to ignore.

What This Means for the Browns’ Present and Future

Having two finalists for the NFL’s top defensive awards is more than just an offseason accolade; it’s a franchise-defining moment. It validates the team’s defensive philosophy and personnel decisions. For the front office, it’s a sign that building around a generational talent like Garrett and hitting a home run on a draft pick like Schwesinger is a blueprint for sustained contention. For the locker room, it’s a galvanizing point of pride, a recognition of the sweat and film study that produced a legendary season on that side of the ball.

Looking ahead, this duo forms the terrifying core of a defense that should remain elite for years to come. Garrett, in his prime, sets the standard. Schwesinger, just beginning his ascent, represents the future. Their symbiotic relationship—Garrett’s pressure forcing hurried throws into Schwesinger’s zones, Schwesinger’ sure tackling cleaning up plays—is the stuff of a defensive coordinator’s dreams. The awards would be individual honors, but they are born from a perfectly constructed collective effort.

Conclusion: A Dawg Pound Celebration in the Making

As the NFL world turns its eyes to the award ceremonies, the city of Cleveland and the Browns’ faithful have double the reason to watch. Myles Garrett and Carson Schwesinger are not just finalists; they are emblematic of a tough, intelligent, and relentless defensive identity that has returned to the shores of Lake Erie. Whether both, one, or neither ultimately takes home the hardware, their recognition as finalists is a testament to their extraordinary seasons and the overwhelming strength of the unit they lead. In a league often dominated by offensive fireworks, the Browns have made a powerful statement: defense still wins, and in Cleveland, it wins with a pair of award-worthy superstars leading the charge. The Dawg Pound has its heroes, and the entire NFL now knows their names.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.