Former Alabama linebacker signs rookie deal with Buccaneers

Former Alabama outside linebacker Chris Braswell signed his rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers signed Braswell to a standard four-year deal after selecting him with the 57th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Braswell is expected to play a large role in the outside linebacker rotation in Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy scheme, which was a strength of his last season at Alabama. Braswell will be in competition for the starting role as well alongside 2023 third-round pick Yaya Diaby.

“When the shoulder pads come on, we’ll see, but he’s very tough, he’s very steady, he has a very strong lower body,” Bowles said when speaking about Braswell on Tuesday. “He has semblances of Yaya from last year, as far as raw strength. We’ll see when the pads come on how that translates, but I like what I see so far.”

In his final year with the Crimson Tide, Braswell recorded eight sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss as he was named to the All-SEC second team by the Associated Press.