The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several difficult roster decisions looming as the preseason reaches its final days.
One of the most crowded position groups is OLB/EDGE. Chris Braswell may have more at stake than anyone else in that group.
If Tampa Bay moves on from Braswell, it would mark another disappointing outcome from the team’s recent draft history. It would also leave the Buccaneers with little chance of recouping anything for their former second-round pick.
Braswell’s Trade Value Has Tumbled
Braswell potentially could have brought back a Day 3 selection earlier in his Buccaneers tenure. A sixth- or seventh-round pick may have been realistic.
Instead, his value has reportedly fallen significantly after a rough training camp. Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker identified Braswell among the league’s top roster-bubble players.
The NFL’s final 53-man roster deadline is Aug. 30. Braswell now appears to be fighting for his spot with the Buccaneers.
“Braswell has been largely unspectacular over two years with the Buccaneers,” Locker wrote. “Limited to just 618 snaps, the former Alabama standout has accrued 35 pressures on 322 pass-rushing snaps but has garnered just a 61.0 overall PFF grade. Although the former 57th overall pick enters only his third pro campaign, he was put on notice this offseason when Tampa Bay drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round and signed Al-Quadin Muhammad. Also complicating the situation is the performance of other edge defenders in the preseason, such as Anthony Nelson (92.6 overall PFF grade) and David Walker (80.5 PFF pass-rush grade). Coming off a 34.4 overall grade in Week 1 of the preseason, Braswell missed the Buccaneers’ second contest and may need a good outing against the Jaguars to firmly make the roster.”
Braswell Left Out of ESPN’s Roster Projection
ESPN’s Jenna Laine released her final 53-man roster prediction for Tampa Bay on Aug. 24. Braswell was not included in her projection.
Laine predicted that the Buccaneers would carry five edge rushers. That group consisted of Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Rueben Bain, Anthony Nelson and David Walker.
“Diaby and Bain will start, with Muhammad moving all across the line and Walker and Nelson serving in rotational capacities,” Laine wrote. “Mohamed Kamara makes the practice squad.”
That projection leaves Braswell on the outside looking in. It also highlights how much the position has changed since Tampa Bay drafted him.
Buccaneers Needed More From Braswell
Tampa Bay selected Braswell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers hoped he could eventually become a significant piece of their pass rush.
Instead, Braswell has struggled to establish himself during his first two seasons. He has appeared in all 34 regular-season games since entering the league, recording just 2.5 sacks.
ESPN’s Ben Solak previously labeled the selection a miss for Tampa Bay. His assessment came while discussing the Buccaneers’ need for a difference-making pass rusher.
“The (Tampa Bay) roster is full of homegrown players, but with far less success,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote. “Chris Braswell was a miss at pass rusher and Yaya Diaby is only a strong rotational player, leaving the Bucs without a ringer of a pass rusher. They didn’t get involved on Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson but now suddenly need a splashy sack artist at No. 15.”
Rueben Bain Jr. Changed the Equation
The Buccaneers addressed their edge-rushing needs with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Miami All-American Rueben Bain fell to Tampa Bay at No. 15 overall.
Bain’s availability was influenced by off-field concerns and his shorter-than-ideal arm length. Tampa Bay ultimately decided the potential reward outweighed those concerns.
The Buccaneers also signed veteran edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. Meanwhile, Anthony Nelson and David Walker have strengthened their cases during the preseason.
Braswell did not even travel to Jacksonville for Tampa Bay’s joint practices. The Buccaneers will face the Jaguars in their preseason finale Friday night.
Braswell’s Roster Spot Is in Question
The situation has made Braswell one of the more intriguing roster decisions facing Tampa Bay. Greg Auman of Fox Sports also identified him among several Buccaneers players with their jobs potentially at stake.
“As much as the Bucs take pride in keeping so many of their draft picks, there are a few with jobs on the line this week — Devin Culp, Chris Braswell, Elijah Klein, Josh Hayes,” Via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. “On the bubble with final cuts in six days.”
The Buccaneers now have one final preseason game to evaluate their roster. Braswell’s absence from Jacksonville only adds another layer to an increasingly uncertain situation.
After two seasons with limited production, the former second-round pick appears to be facing a critical decision point. Tampa Bay’s final roster moves will determine whether Braswell gets another opportunity to change that narrative.
Reality Check
At some point, the Buccaneers need to stop holding onto players who have shown they aren’t up to the task. Braswell has reached that point, and Tampa Bay should move on.
Whether Braswell’s struggles stem from him, the system, or both, the result has remained the same. He has not done enough to establish himself as a reliable piece of the defense.
Jason Licht has added plenty of new talent to this roster. That makes this the right time for Tampa Bay to embrace addition by subtraction.
The Buccaneers should either trade Braswell or release him. At this point, continuing to hold onto him only delays what has become an obvious decision.
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