Picking the San Francisco 49ers' best Round 2 draft target ahead of the 2024 NFL Combine

In terms of his explosiveness, there should be little doubt about that. Braswell gets off the ball extremely well and does a superb job translating speed to power and driving pass protectors back towards the quarterback. Braswell consistently plays with good pad level as a pass rusher, and his burst off the snap is complemented by impressive power in his hands, which he uses to great effect.

Braswell's breakout 2023 season at Alabama saw him excel at using his power to disengage from blocks both in the run game and at the top of his pass rushes, with his efforts getting after the quarterback aided by a series of moves including the cross-chop, swim, club and rip, the latter of which proved an effective tool when attacking inside.

Indeed, Braswell is a pass rusher who can win inside and out, but could the varied role in which he operated during his time with the Crimson Tide be something that gives the 49ers pause?

Is Braswell a system fit?

A late bloomer with Alabama who didn't receive significant playing time until his final year, Braswell wore many different hats in 2023, just as last year's third overall pick Will Anderson did for the Tide.

Braswell operated as a four and five-tech on Alabama's multiple front, but was most often lined up as a stand-up outside pass rusher who was frequently asked to drop into coverage.

At the next level, many see Braswell as a 3-4 outside linebacker, theoretically making him an awkward fit for a 49ers defense that runs a 4-3.

But Braswell did play snaps with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end for Alabama and did not look out of place. San Francisco has rarely had a problem finding ways to utilize versatile players who have operated in different capacities, and the 49ers would surely welcome having a defender experienced in playing inside-out for a multiple front who was comfortable in coverage in college.

What the 49ers are more likely to be concerned with are some inconsistencies in Braswell's game, predominantly in his work at the top of the rush. When he wins with speed, Braswell can flatten to the quarterback, but the lower-body flexibility to bend around the edge is not a regular feature of his game.

Similarly, while he does have a strong repertoire of moves, Braswell still needs some of refinement in terms of developing counters that will help him more consistently win after his initial rush stalls.

Final Word

While the doubts about system fit and some of Braswell's areas for improvement might appear to make claims of him being the best second-round pick for the 49ers dubious, the reality is he ticks the boxes of what they covet in edge rushers. Braswell is a twitched up, explosive pass rusher who wins with his get-off and his power and has a great deal of room for growth. 

On top of that, he has shown he can set the edge and play the run well and has shown good discipline in reading the mesh point when defending run-pass options and zone-read plays, which have continually given San Francisco trouble over the years.

If the 49ers have a chance to get that kind of player at 63 overall, expect them to take it.