Bucs Draft EDGE Chris Braswell In Round 2

The Bucs came into the offseason needing another starting-caliber player at outside linebacker, and Braswell will get a chance to be that guy. During his college career at Alabama, he had to bide his time behind two absolute studs in Will Anderson Jr., who was the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Dallas Turner, who was selected in the first round of this year’s draft.

Anderson won the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott Impact Trophy Award and the Lombardi Award last year in addition to being the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Turner was this year’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

But Braswell showed he could be a dominant player, too. Despite making just two starts in 2023, he had a big year for the Crimson Tide, tallying eight sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two passes defensed and an interception.

Bucs Get A Big Hitter In Alabama’s Chris Braswell

Chris Braswell is a big-time hitter and a violent tackler with impressive speed-to-power as a pass rusher. A very good athlete, he has the ability to bend the edge and uses his hands well to not only get past offensive tackles but to force fumbles. Braswell had an 87.9 pass rush grade from PFF last year, with a very good 18.2% pass rush win rate, and was credited with 10 QB hits and 33 hurries.

The Alabama standout has the strength to set the edge on the perimeter and take on tackles one-on-one in the run game. Braswell has the grip strength to drag down running backs or quarterbacks with just one hand, and is great in pursuit of the ball.

Although he wasn’t asked to drop in coverage with regularity, the fact that he has the athleticism to do that, evidenced by a pick-six, makes him a worthy fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

Given that he only started two games at Alabama and had only one year of production, the Bucs are hoping that his elite speed and ability to convert that speed into power will translate at the next level as he continues to develop as a pass rusher. He’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, but he was a two-time member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” thanks to his speed and strength.

Chris Braswell Joins The Bucs’ Developing Outside Linebacker Room

After releasing veteran Shaq Barrett this offseason, the Bucs clearly had a pressing need at outside linebacker. Yaya Diaby, the 2023 third-round pick who led the team with 7.5 sacks as a rookie last year, has one of the starting spots locked down.

But beyond Diaby, Tampa Bay lacked another surefire starter on the other side. They had 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who has yet to fully blossom into the player the Bucs drafted him to be, penciled in as a starter with veterans Randy Gregory and Anthony Nelson – as well as youngsters in Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez – rounding out the room.

Considering the Bucs spent a second-round pick on him, it appears as if Chris Braswell will get a chance to be that starter opposite Diaby. There remains a lot of unknowns with Tampa Bay’s pass rush and it’s yet to be determined whether Braswell is the missing piece that the team needs. But there’s enough to like with the 22-year-old, who won’t turn 23 until well into his rookie season with the Bucs.

It’s worth noting that Western Michigan EDGE Marshawn Kneelend, a Pewter Report Bucs Best Bet at outside linebacker, was selected at pick No. 56 – one spot ahead of where Tampa Bay selected Braswell. Whether Jason Licht would’ve preferred Kneeland is unknown, but the point is moot as Kneeland is a Cowboy and Braswell is the newest Buc.

Braswell told Pewter Report at the NFL Scouting Combine that he met with the Bucs, and now he’s set to join Tampa Bay as the newest piece of Todd Bowles’ pass rush, which badly needs to improve in 2024.

– Scott Reynolds contributed to this report.