Buccaneers Waive Former Second-Round Pick Chris Braswell

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are waiving outside linebacker Chris Braswell, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Braswell, 24, was selected 57th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He entered the league after earning second-team All-SEC honors at Alabama.

Braswell Never Found a Consistent Role

Braswell had a limited defensive impact during his first two seasons with the Buccaneers. He appeared in all 34 games, recording 48 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss.

In 2025, Braswell’s 57.6 PFF grade ranked 91st among 115 qualifying edge defenders. The Buccaneers also deployed him extensively on special teams during his time with the team.

Braswell logged 391 total special teams snaps across his two seasons in Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers Move On From Former Second-Round Pick

The reality is Braswell never lived up to his draft status. Two seasons into his NFL career, the Buccaneers have seen enough to move on.

This is a disappointing outcome for a player Tampa Bay invested a second-round pick in. Braswell had opportunities to establish himself, but his defensive production never justified that investment.

At this point, moving on was the right decision. The Buccaneers cannot afford to keep holding onto players who consistently fail to show they belong in the rotation.