Chris Braswell Film Review: New Bucs’ Pass Rusher

– Bull rush by using speed to power.

– Solid run defender who can set the edge and can effectively take on pullers.

– Has flashed a variety of complimentary moves (cross-chop, dip-and-rip, spin move).

– Quick first-step explosiveness off the snap.

Negatives

– Lack of bend may limit his ceiling.

– Light weight for position gives some pause as to whether his base power game will translate well to the NFL.

– Needs to develop a deeper pass rush arsenal where some of the moves he has tried sparingly become a bigger part of his regular approach.

Overall Outlook For Chris Braswell With The Bucs

Chris Braswell adds to a Bucs outside linebacker room already robust with high-floor defenders. His style of play is reminiscent to second-year Bucs pass rusher YaYa Diaby in that they both like to work off of a powerful bull rush or long arm move. What remains to be seen is whether that style of play will work for Braswell, who weighed in at 251 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine before bulking back up to 259 at his pro day.

Diaby is considerably heavier than Braswell, cutting down to 263 for his Combine last year and probably plays closer to 270. That added mass gives him additional punch behind his power rushes that Braswell will struggle to match. Similarly, Braswell’s 33.25-inch arms are below average, but his long arm should still play due to his broad shoulders extending his overall wingspan to a bit over 81 inches.

Braswell joins a long list of Tampa Bay pass rushers who offer a high floor to their game. But the team is looking for someone who can ascend to a high-level that can consistently win one-on-one. In order for Braswell to be that guy he is going to have to focus on his complimentary moves that he flashed at Alabama. This includes becoming more comfortable with his spin move as an inside counter, and possibly developing a hump move reminiscent of Reggie White to build off of his long arm.

If Braswell can add these tools to high his high-character and high-motor, he can become what the Bucs have been searching for since Shaq Barrett’s Pro Bowl season in 2021 when he reached 10 sacks. That means being a consistent threat that other teams have to gameplan for off the edge.