The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed second-round draft pick linebacker Chris Braswell to a four-year rookie deal. Braswell’s draft position salary comes with a four-year contract worth approximately $6.785 million.
The Buccaneers have just one player left to sign from their 2024 draft class, first-round pick, center Graham Barton.
While he will definitely play a big part in rotation, Braswell should push for starting position opposite of Yaya Diaby. The 57th overall selection had eight sacks in his senior year at Alabama.
Head coach Todd Bowles sees a little of Yaya in Braswell.
“When the shoulder pads come on, we’ll see,” head coach Todd Bowles stated Tuesday, via the team website. “But he’s very tough; he’s very steady; he has a very strong lower body. 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.”
If Braswell can in fact produce like Diaby did last year, this team’s pass rush will be hard to stop.
Braswell’s Draft Profile
Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
HT: 6’3
WT: 255 lbs
Accolades:
• Second-team All-SEC (2023)
Video:
Pros:
In coverage, Braswell shows excellent awareness and anticipation when dropping back into zone, and he has the fluidity and speed to run with most tight ends over the middle.
Braswell shows good quickness off the line of scrimmage and flashes the violent hands to win around the edge.
Made Bruce Feldman’s Freak’s List – ranked #10. He wrote “Braswell (13 tackles in 2021) is the biggest Freak. At 6-3, 243, he squats 705 pounds and power-cleaned 405 pounds this offseason. He also vertical-jumped 38.5 inches.”
Coordinated footwork and balance. Makes more plays in pass coverage than expected because of his natural football instincts.
Good closing speed with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs.
He has the fluid movement skills and speed to turn and run in coverage against tight ends.
Braswell has ability as a blitzer, with the length and flexibility to get around the edge.
Cons:
Generally an effective openfield tackler but doesn’t wrap up consistently. Shows only average awareness in coverage.
Braswell also has a tendency to be too aggressive attacking downhill, and Braswell can be beat on counter plays and cutbacks.
Limited vision and is easily fooled by misdirection. Lacks range and lateral agility in coverage.
Summary:
As a sophomore for the Crimson Tide in 2022 Braswell played in 12 games and took part in 283 snaps for the Crimson Tide. He recorded 11 tackles, 2 assists, while adding 11 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 27 total pressures, and 19 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and 4 sacks during the year.
In 2023 as a junior Braswell played in 13 games and contributed on 534 snaps. He recorded 21 tackles, 14 assists while making 24 stops. In coverage Braswell chalked up no pass breakups, one interception, and QB rating when targetted of 90.6. As a pass rusher, he produced 54 total pressures, which included 31 QB hurries, 10 QB hits, and an outstanding 13 sacks on the year. The Buccaneers pass rush was inconsistent during parts of the 2023 season. This pick will help solve that issue.
Real Bucs Talk Podcast: Chris Braswell Film Study
The Real Bucs Talk Podcast guys break down the game film of Buccaneers second-round draft pick EDGE Rusher Chris Braswell.
JT Olson’s Post-Draft Grade For Braswell
Chris Braswell – A
Many early mock drafts projected Braswell to the Bucs as early as the first round. This was always too rich for my blood. As much as I liked the athletic ability and pure talent of Braswell, I never saw him as a potential first round pick.
This is because he just hasn’t shown enough polish as a pass rusher. While I love his physical play style and what he can do as a run defender at the point of attack, I really wanted more from him as a pass rusher. Not every problem is a nail in the NFL, so his hammering pass rush style won’t always be effective.
He reminds me a lot of Yaya Diaby in his playing style. Not extremely polished coming out of college, but dripping with talent and athletic ability. Not the type of prospect that I would want to gamble on in the first round, but an excellent addition in round two.
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