The Kansas City Chiefs need to channel their free agent spending toward fixing their offensive line, secondary, and receiving corps.
That reality may leave star linebacker Nick Bolton, who is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, on the chopping block and may open the door for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach to select the veteran’s replacement in the 2025 NFL draft.
At 6’2″, 225 lbs., UCLA Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger struggles to stack and shed blocks. However, he’s a fantastic athlete with excellent closing burst, range, speed, and fluidity in the open field. His acceleration, loose hips, and arm length should make him a riser throughout the pre-draft non-contact evaluation process at his pro day and the NFL Combine.
Schwesinger’s vision and instincts as a run defender help him find unimpeded paths to the football. He patiently sits at the second level, waiting for a lane to the ball carrier to open. Schwesinger locks in on running backs and mirrors their movements to meet them in the hole.
15 TACKLES
1 SACK
1 PUNT BLOCKCarson Schwesinger in his ninth 10+ tackle game of the season 💪#B1GFootball x @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/rRVEInDLrM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 1, 2024
Offensive linemen drive Schwesinger out of plays with little difficulty, but the redshirt junior uses his speed to beat linemen to their landmarks. He also dodges or slips blocks with his agility. Schwesinger’s pursuit speed and impressive motor make him a threat to run down ball carriers at all areas of the field.
Schwesinger’s awareness and instincts in coverage need to continue developing, but his athletic tools make him a promising coverage linebacker. He brackets slot receivers down the seam with good inside leverage and takes away running backs or tight ends working at the short to intermediate levels.
Schwesinger must play with more discipline. He bites on misdirection and falls for eye candy in the backfield, which causes him to abandon his assignments in coverage. Even with these flaws, Schwesinger projects as a top 100 selection.
