The Las Vegas Raiders are in the process of finding players to add to their roster through the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Raiders put together a nice class in last year’s draft and now have the opportunity to add more young talent in hopes of making a postseason push in 2024.
Under Coach Antonio Pierce and General Manager Tom Telesco, the Raiders hope to build a championship-winning squad for the Silver and Black. Raider Nation is hoping they will bring back a Lombardi Trophy.
One player who could help them get to that level is Alabama defensive end Chris Braswell. A Second-Team All-SEC member in 2023, Braswell and fellow draft prospect Dallas Turner formed an elite duo along that Crimson Tide defensive line.
Braswell finished his collegiate career with 75 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and 10.5 sacks. He spent a good week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and improved his draft stock.
On tape, Braswell looks like a player who could be a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. He is a good mover who gets off the snap well and flies to the quarterback. He has great athleticism, being named to The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List,’ identifying some of the most athletic players in college football.
Beyond his physical traits, Braswell is a worker. He gives 100 percent effort on every snap, playing through the whistle and trying to make a play. He stands at 6-foot-3, weighs 257 pounds, and looks best rushing off the edge in a two-point stance.
Braswell ranked fifth in the SEC in sacks in 2023 with eight. According to Pro Football Focus, he generated 56 total pressures. He uses quickness and explosiveness to be an effective pass rusher, even when he is not getting to the quarterback.
While he is an athlete who does not take a play off, Braswell does not have very good arm length and may struggle to make tackles consistently at the next level. He plays hard, but his size may cause problems at the next level against NFL offensive linemen.
Braswell is projected to be a second or third-round selection. He may be a project, as he is still raw, but the tools are there. He is similar to current Raider Malcolm Koonce and how he came out in 2021.
If the Raiders want to mold another toolsy, hardworking defensive end, Braswell may be a good fit on day two.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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