WHERE HE'S FROM: Bruener, 6-foot-11/8 and 227 pounds, grew up in Woodinville, Wash., but he was born in Pittsburgh, where his father Mark was playing tight end for the Steelers (Mark is now a Steelers scout). Carson Bruener attended Redmond High School, where he played football and basketball. He redshirted at Washington, Mark's alma mater, in 2020 and then played the next four seasons for the Huskies. He'll turn 24 on June 5.
WHAT HE'S DONE: Carson Bruener didn't become a full-time starter until the 2024 season but he made up for lost time by registering a team-leading 104 tackles and intercepting three passes on the way to earning Third-Team All-Big Ten honors despite playing the entire season with a sprained AC joint. Bruener was one of two Big Ten players with 100-plus tackles and three or more interceptions last season. He also excelled as a four-phase special teams player at Washington and was named the Huskies' Special Teams MVP in 2023 (he was an Honorable-Mention All-Pac 12 selection that season). Bruner was a captain at Washington in 2024.
NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic graded Bruener as a sixth- or seventh-round prospect and listed him as the No. 23 linebacker available.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Bruener will be limited by middling agility and play violence but his production represents an ability to always be around the football. He projects as an NFL backup with the speed and mentality of a core special-teamer." _ Brugler.
