The Cleveland Browns opened the 2025 regular season on Sunday with 13 rookies on the roster.
That is a result of equal parts normal roster turnover and the fact that many of the rookies are better than the players they replaced from last season’s 3-14 debacle.
The rookie group includes the team’s seven selections from the 2025 NFL Draft, four of whom made their NFL debuts at Huntington Bank Field against the Cincinnati Bengals.
And even though the final result was another afternoon of frustration, for
one week, the drafted rookies all looked like they belonged. (We’re ignoring the undrafted rookies because, kickers, man!)
The Browns got the rookies going on their first offensive drive of the game, as the opening offensive play of the season was a run over the right side for five yards by running back Dylan Sampson. On the very next play, quarterback Joe Flacco hit tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with a five-yard pass.
That was the beginning of a busy day for the duo, as Sampson finished with 93 yards of offense, fueled by a game-high eight receptions for 64 yards. The running game was non-existent, unfortunately, but Sampson did lead the Browns with 12 carries for 29 yards.
Fannin finished with seven receptions on nine targets for 63 yards. While he had a disappointing drop in the fourth quarter that helped stall a drive in Cincinnati territory, Fannin shook it off on the next drive by pulling in a 22-yard reception.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive tackle Mason Graham did not hear his name called much by the announcers, but still finished with three tackles.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger, however, showed the buzz over the summer was deserved as he had a team-high eight tackles, including a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss. He also had a big hit on Cincinnati running back Chase Brown to break up a third-down pass in the third quarter.
The Browns may have come out on the wrong end of the scoreboard against the Bengals, but the rookies who were on the field showed their potential and should be able to build on a promising first week of their NFL careers.
