Carson Schwesinger & The Bucs
April 16th, 2025
Sometimes the obvious is overlooked.
Joe thinks that could be the case when it comes to the Bucs’ potential interest in UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
What a Jason Licht kind of guy he sounds like. Dude was a walk-on who became a first-team All-American last year after three seasons in a backup/special teams role, and he’s known for being a super-smart player.
Schwesinger is a hell of a story. Oh, and he was a bio-engineering major.
At the NFL level, Schwesinger (6-2, 242 pounds, 40-inch vertical leap) looks like a versatile inside linebacker who can cover and stay sound and smart in the run game with enough juice to blitz reasonably well.
Could he be the inside linebacker to eventually replace Lavonte David, or to play alongside him this season?
Joe keeps seeing Schwesinger projected as a second-round pick. He’s also known as a special teams ace, which the Bucs sure could use.
“In his mind, he starts from ground zero every single day,” said UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe told the L.A. Times “That’s a skill set that’s very rare and he understands that the way he made it through this path, it ain’t from taking a day off.”
Joe reads more and more about Schwesinger and keeps imagining Todd Bowles talking about what a chess piece he is and Licht raving about Schwesinger’s story and team-first mentality.
The Bucs probably would have to trade up to get him, but it might be worth it.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
I don’t foresee any Bucs trade ups this year. One never knows, if the highest rated guy on their board starts slipping towards them maybe Licht would but with the depth needs and only 6 picks…
Feels like Bucs will be letting this one come to them and trading back to acquire an extra 3rd or 4th if possible, just based on everything I see about rounds 2-4 being a solid group of prospects.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
4.70 40 time probably won’t cut it in the NFL, no matter how motivated. (Kuechley ran a 4.58.). ILB needs speed in todays game to keep up with running backs and tight ends.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
@SaskBucs
They don’t need to trade up. If anything trade down & get more picks. This is what I’ve got for them so far.
1st round: DONOVAN EZEKIURAKU (DE Boston College)
2nd round: CARSON SCHWESINGER (LB UCLA)
3rd round: QUINCY RILEY (CB Louisville)
4th round: AENEAS PEEBLES (DT Virginia Tech)
5th round: RICKY WHITE (WR UNLV)
7th round: DK KAUFMAN (S North Carolina St)
I’m sure some will have some smart comments about it but that’s what I gave them as of now.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
I really think they should take another LB though. Just don’t know if I’d wanna deal with another shoulder injury because they were already dealing with it with Dennis. Why deal with it all over again?
April 16th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
A few weeks ago I read a mock draft where the Bears traded up to 19 and the Bucs out of the first round and in return the Bucs got 2 Bears 2nd picks that would result in the Bucs having 3 picks in the first 53 draft slots.
That is the scenario where Schwesinger as well as other positions of need could get filled
April 16th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Irishmist Says:
April 16th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
4.70 40 time probably won’t cut it in the NFL, no matter how motivated.
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I would agree – certainly in this offense where ILB’s need to do a lot in coverage, you can’t run a 4.77 like Britt – you’re a huge liability. However he ran a 4.46 at his pro-day – which is obviously outstanding. I also see the 4.7 number, but I’m not sure where that comes from as apparently he didn’t run at the combine.
Anywho, if that 4.46 speed is real, then he probably won’t make it to the Bucs 2nd round pick – but I’m not sure teams put a ton of stock in pro-day numbers. But I’d guess he’s faster than 4.7 based on his play – but almost certainly not a 4.4 guy either.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Great season, but body looks maxed out ..mid 4th or later for me
April 16th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
You can’t have a 40” vertical at that size and not be fast enough.
This dude is an athlete.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Whelp, he’s likely got the smarts to understand what everyone including himself is supposed to be doing in every scenario of Todd’s Bowles’ defensive calls. And I’m sure Jason and team know how fast he really runs. Once again, worry less, drink more.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
Rod Munch. KJ Britt was a great teammate and a good fit for the our team’s culture. Good SEC run stopper. Solid MLB. I’d get mad at your comments constantly slamming him. But you were right. Today’s game you’ve got to be faster than that. Britt can play limited snaps defensively (run stopping) and special teams and still have some time in this league. Any linebacker we draft is going to at least crack a 4.6 forty I would hope. Instincts and attitude are awfully important but I don’t care who the coach is the first thing they want to know is how fast are they. Speed Kills. They say that because it’s true.
April 16th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
April 16th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
Rod Munch. KJ Britt was a great teammate and a good fit for the our team’s culture. Good SEC run stopper. Solid MLB. I’d get mad at your comments constantly slamming him.
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He might have been a great guy, and a good college LB, but I’ll take a team full of pricks like W. Sapp over a team of nice guys who are too slow to play in the NFL.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
Cody Simon is intriguing in the later rounds OU linebacker. Athletic enough to cover, but also had 7 sacks his senior year.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
To me, if we’re looking at LB in the 2nd round it will likely come down to the potential (the dirty word of drafts) of schwesinger or the steady consistency of Demetrius Knight. They both give me pause for different reasons. We may be better off going with a CB in the second and either Paul or Bassa in the 3rd to fill out our LB room. I love this time of year. Bring on the draft.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
If the qbs drop in this draft and Sanders is available at 19, JL’s phone is going to ring off the hook from people trying to jump ahead of the Steelers at 21.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
I agree Tony, and I don’t think the Bucs will. I also agree Brian, ideally they get someone for the front in round 1 (OLB/DT) a CB in round 2 and then look at ILB and S rounds 3-4-5.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Draft 1 or 2 Lb in the 7th rnd and sign undrafted free agent lbs
April 16th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
@SaskBucs
Yeah because you’re not gonna be able to address everything in the 1st round. You never know where you’re gonna find the next good player. They could come out of any round & any school. Brady really is one of the perfect examples going later in the draft. Look at just now with the Bucs & how they just took Bucky 4th round. Hopefully he can keep it going.
April 16th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
I’d rather the Bucs take a CB in the 2nd Round, if there’s a good one still there. I’d like them to get an ILB in the 3rd to 5th Round range.
April 16th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Honestly I trust whoever they pick In the first 4 rounds zy is a5th so I bet whoever between 1st and 4th should be exactly what’s needed to put us in good standing
April 16th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
David, Dennis, Walker, and a mid-round pick is fine by me. The Bucs CANNOT continue to neglect the CB position, IMHO.
April 16th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
My #1 ILB, due to go early in rnd 2, so probably not be around by #51. He could be a great target if the Bucs trade down from 19. Carson jumped 40″ at the combine, incredible, but tweaked his hammy. He hasn’t run a 40, so that 4.7 time sounds old or bogus. He had an individual pro day and reported kicked A:
From SI:
“One thing that really stands out about Schwesinger’s game is his speed, getting to top speed quickly. Schefter reported that the Moorpark, California native ran a 4.1 in the 20-yard shuttle and a 6.9 in the three-cone drill. He has flexed his speed and agility all throughout the combine and multiple pro days.
Schwesinger completed his junior season with the Bruins as the team’s leading tackler with 136 total tackles, ranking third in the nation. He posted a career-high four sacks and two interceptions, proving to many NFL organizations that he has the talent and ability to play at the next level.”
April 16th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Why does everyone forget Deion Jones. He is never mentioned signed a futures contract was a stud at LB a few years ago prior to injury and is only 30.
He looked good in limited action at end of season and was always good speed and coverage skills.
April 16th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
He’s not a second rounder. Late first. I can see us dropping back a bit and selecting him. Bmore could also team him with Smith.
April 16th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
No way this kid runs a 4.7. Love his tape and would be beating the drum for him. Quick twitch, instinctive, reactive and only scratching the surface. Don’t see him lasting to our 2nd, so we’d either need to trade back in first or trade up in 2nd (or would it be crazy to see him go at 19? Remember, they wanted Jack Campbell in the 1st)
April 16th, 2025 at 10:21 pm
Sure Tony.
April 16th, 2025 at 11:11 pm
I originally started out wanting Schwesinger with our 2nd…but then did a little more eval on our team and watched WR Higgins and was sold, (he will go in the 2nd to someone)….also very aware of Knight at LB, so I adjusted. If he’s there in the 3rd and Knight is gone, Im all in.
April 17th, 2025 at 1:56 am
Not sure where some of you are getting “4.7 speed” This kid is all about speed and quickness. It is his whole game. Very good tackler too. The issue is he is small. Played at about 220-228. Bulked up to 245 but that is not the tape from the season. Also do not see where JOE has him in round 2. Everything seems to point to round 3 at best but probably 4-5. Might be a very good pick there for special teams play alone.
April 17th, 2025 at 8:34 am
So fly out to LA and time him yourself on the track. Take best of 3
April 17th, 2025 at 8:42 am
Metrics dont measure a man’s heart. Brady was a 6th round pick.
April 17th, 2025 at 11:26 am
This guy has not run the 40 yard dash at the combine, pro day, or his private workout a week or so ago. He has a hamstring injury. Look deeper than the AI google results.
“Schwesinger ran the three-cone in 7.05 seconds, the shuttle in 4.25 seconds, and broad jumped 10-foot-7, per scouts in attendance. All three results would have ranked second among linebackers at the NFL Combine. Schwesinger is an elite athlete at the position.”
April 17th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Do what it takes to get him.
April 17th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Give me a guy with something to prove before a overhyped injured player that most likely washes out in five years or sooner.
I’m sure Bowles will make the best decision……
He’s just so savvy!
April 18th, 2025 at 1:17 am
@FireBowlesNow – You still with the Todd Bowles hater group ? We won a Super Bowl because of his defense, and in doing so , the Bucs had a few bad years with the salary cap. Not to mention the Devin White situation where he fell off a cliff after such a great start to his career. Now that we are getting out of cap purgatory, Todd is rebuilding that defense. Bucs are a couple of good players away from being the best in the NFL. Todd has been a great HC, but you must be one of those fans that started watching when Brady arrived. If you were a real Bucs fan, you would appreciate the way this organization is, especially after the lost decade. So either be a real fan , or go root for the AINTS
April 18th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Nobody hates Bowles. Just win baby win.