Bucs are watching one of their recent draft picks grow up in front of their eyes and he can help unlock the defense in 2025

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to match its own Super Bowl expectations in 2025 then it's going to need some of its younger players to take a step forward.

One such player is second-year EDGE Chris Braswell. In an impressive rookie class that made a major impact in Year 1, the 2024 second-rounder got lost in the shuffle a bit. He couldn't crack the Bucs' top pass rush rotation, playing 329 (or 30%) of defensive snaps. The production wasn't there, either, as he recorded just 1.5 sacks and one tackle for loss over that span.

Braswell has to take a step forward if the Bucs want their outside pass rush to get back to what they're used to seeing. Todd Bowles has a solid three-man rotation in Yaya Diaby, Haason Reddick, and Anthony Nelson, but it's not enough. They need that fourth guy to be effective and with David Walker now out for the year, it has to Braswell. Even if it had to be him before Walker's injury, anyway.

So far, that's been the exact case in training camp. Per reports, Braswell has gotten off to a great start and he's carried that all the way through Thursday's seventh practice as Pewter Report's Matt Matera and Adam Slivon recently noted in their training camp recap:

"It was another impressive showing at Thursday’s practice for second-year outside linebacker Chris Braswell. Braswell pushed right tackle Michael Jordan back on one rep to disrupt quarterback Kyle Trask’s throwing motion, leading to an incomplete pass. The 2024 second-round pick also continued to flash his pass-rushing prowess and had another would-be sack. Head coach Todd Bowles wants to see him level up, and he will have more reps and a chance to this season." - Matt Matera, Pewter Report

The game has slowed down for Braswell and it's the key to taking the next step

As with most rookies, the mental side of the NFL game took a minute to fully click for Braswell. That's changed going into Year 2, however, and it can easily help him take that next step.

"[He is] just understanding the scheme a little more and he leaned up a little bit, allowing him to play faster," Bowles told reporters after Thursday's practice. "He’s coming off the ball a lot faster than he was last year because he knows what to do and he knows how to do it. Now he’s just letting his ability take over. He’s worked all year with Yaya [Diaby] – they’ve become very tight. His work ethic is outstanding and he’s putting it to use. . .

". . . Second year, he’s supposed to be better and he is better. We’re expecting him to play better. He’s off to a good start.”

Diaby has played a big role in helping Braswell develop, too. They've been "tied at the hip" all offseason, according to Bowles, and the hope is it'll help both players achieve the "breakout" status they're looking for coming into 2025.

"Chris, I'm so happy for him because he transitioned his body in the best way, [with his] cut down in weight," Diaby told reporters on Day 4 of camp. "He's moving even faster – like today he was getting off the ball so fast and then just looked so good. I'm super excited to see what he's going to do this year."

A step forward for Braswell certainly equates to a step forward for both the Bucs' pass rush and defense, as a whole. It's another box that needs to be checked if the defense wants to get back to par -and even above par- in 2025.