The Buccaneers made their Shaquil Barrett replacement selection on Friday when they used the No. 57 overall choice in the second round to choose Chris Braswell, an edge rusher from Alabama.
Although it fits the Bucs’ description of freakish athletes and represents another significant investment in the trenches, will Braswell start contributing right away? Let’s investigate.
Career Stats for Chris Braswell
Braswell, a former 5-star recruit, is special since he has only started two games in his career because he was forced to play behind Dallas Turner and Will Anderson, two unknowns. All humor aside, Braswell made the most of his newfound prospects in 2023.
Braswell broke out with 10.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 passes defensed, and an interception (returned for a touchdown) in just his second season after totaling just 5.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in his first two years combined. Even in QB pressures, he led the Crimson Tide with 56, surpassing Turner, who finished in the top 20 in Round 1.
He totaled 76 tackles (16 for loss), 11 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in 41 games.
Athletic Evaluation
Braswell has a history of shown physical prowess and measurables. Braswell was twice included in analyst Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list because he could run up to 21.9 mph and squat 705 pounds.
Although he didn’t bench, his strength is evident from his excellent speed-to-power repetitions on film, despite his average size of 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds. Relative to his Relative Athletic Score, he tested as an excellent athlete overall.
His burst is evident in his speed testing scores, as he has an explosive first step to outpace linemen. Next Gen Stats gave him a similarly impressive athletic score of 74, which put him in 11th place among defensive ends and edges who attended the NFL Combine.
Who is Chris Braswell as a player?
Although Braswell’s small collegiate snap total provides just a restricted picture of his potential in comparison to other prospects, the positive aspects of his game make him a risk worth taking.
With his long arms (33 1/4″) and good initial step, Braswell, an aggressive hand fighter, can throw tackles off-balance. He already knows how to use some advanced attacks, such as a stab and swipe. He combines good awareness and vision into the backfield with those same arms and hands to make him a powerful tackler who can secure runners.
In Tampa, where playing the run is a must, Braswell has a decent base to get on the field for plays more than simple passing downs.
His comprehension of how to set up linemen with a variety of movements should only get better under the guidance of an excellent teacher like linebackers coach George Edwards, who has coached a number of successful players, most notably YaYa Diaby. Although Braswell needs to get more discipline and drop in coverage—a Todd Bowles requirement for edge players—those problems are to be expected given the short amount of on-field reps.
All things considered, Braswell’s smaller stature and restricted natural bend around the edge may prevent him from making a significant impact as a quarterback chaser. He exudes “solid” qualities, but is he capable of greatness? We’ll find out in time.
In summary
One can never have too many effective pass rushers on the roster, and Braswell joins a strong group that already includes Anthony Nelson, Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and possibly even components like Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez.
At the time, Braswell was without a doubt the most gifted edge rusher still available, and his performance at a top-tier Power 5 program in spite of his lack of starts suggests that the best is still to come.
As the team desperately looks for better 4-man rush combinations to relieve pressure on a secondary that still needs more depth and experience, he should immediately take over Nelson’s No. 3 pass rusher role.
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