Kevin Stefanski may not be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns when Carson Schwesinger and Mason Graham reach their full potential, but he is sure those two will be a huge part of the team’s rebuild for years to come.
Stefanski spoke glowingly of Schwesinger and Graham on Friday ahead of Cleveland’s penultimate home game of 2025 against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Browns (3-11) have lost three straight and six of seven games, which has left Stefanski squarely on the hot seat. The predictions-market site Kalshi lists Stefanski as the most likely to lose his job next among NFL coaches.
Kevin Stefanski: Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham Bring ‘An Attitude’ To The Browns
Schwesinger is the odds-on favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The No. 33 pick in April’s draft leads the Browns in tackles, and sits sixth in the NFL with 133.
Graham, the fifth overall pick in the draft, has 37 tackles, six tackles for loss, a half-sack and four passes defended while earning a 68.0 grade from Pro-Football Focus. That mark puts him No. 31 of 129 interior defensive linemen this year.
That skill has led Stefanski to feel hopeful about the future of the Browns defense.
“They’re made from the right stuff,” Stefanski said. “That’s the exciting part of those two guys, who will be at the center of your defense for a very long time.”
Yet, even more than their on-field talent is the intensity they bring to the Browns.
“They bring an attitude to our defense. They bring an attitude to our football team,” Stefanski said. “I think they bring an attitude to our organization that they will not be denied from this sport.
“They’re a great testament for our players, to players in the NFL and certainly these two guys play through a lot of injuries. They’re not nearly 100%, but they will not be taken off the field.”
The Browns Need To Shore Up Their Offense
Between Schwesinger and NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorite Myles Garrett, plus Graham and lockdown cornerback Denzel Ward, Cleveland has the defensive players to have an elite unit for years to come.
But all that has amounted to a bunch of close home losses. The Browns are still eight games under .500 and in last place in the AFC North — even behind the 4-10 Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns have loaded their defense with junkyard-dog types who grit, scratch and claw their way to making plays. But their offense is a liability, proven by their 30th-ranked offense (264.3 yards per game) and 29th-ranked scoring offense (16.1 points per game).
Running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. are both in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year, so there is talent on that side of the ball. But of course the Browns need to figure out their quarterback position, since neither Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel have looked like consistent NFL-caliber QBs this season.
Stefanski is likely to lose his job due to the Deshaun Watson fiasco, even though owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam ultimately made the call to trade for the oft-injured and ineffective former Clemson star.
But the Browns need to find their version of Schwesinger and Graham on offense and fast.
