The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has fallen on hard times, giving up over 800 yards of total offense over the last 2 weeks in consecutive losses to the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.
The most frustrating thing about this has been that perhaps the biggest weakness on Tampa Bay’s defense one year ago is still its biggest weakness. That’s lack of an elite edge rusher or even several very good edge rushers to impact games.
The Buccaneers thought they had a guy in former NFL All-Pro Haason Reddick, who they signed to a 1-year, $14 million contract on the first day of free agency. Reddick hasn’t been the player he once was and has missed the last 3 games due to injury.
Another underperforming asset at edge rusher has been 2024 second round pick Chris Braswell, who head coach Todd Bowles said should be available for a Week 12 road game against the Los Angeles Rams despite an ankle injury.
“Bowles says OLB Chris Braswell’s ankle is ‘sore’ today but he’s day to day and still in play for Sunday,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, November 19.
Braswell Boosted Draft Stock in Final College Season
Braswell, 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, earned All-SEC honors in his lone season as a full time starter at the University of Alabama in 2023 and impressed scouts with a 4.60-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.
That potential upside for Braswell led the Buccaneers to take him at No. 57 overall in the 2024 NFL draft with hopes he could bolster a defense that hasn’t seen a player with double digit sacks since Shaquil Barrett with 10.5 sacks in 2021.
“Braswell came to Alabama as a five star on the edge, but found it difficult to get on the field at a loaded position that featured the likes of Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, both first round draft picks in their respective classes,” Roll Bama Roll’s Joshua Chatham wrote in April 2024. “Braswell redshirted as a true freshman, played mostly special teams in year two, and was a rotational player in year three. Finally, he got an opportunity to start full time opposite Turner as a redshirt junior and did not disappoint. The stout 255 lb. edge setter managed eight sacks and 10.5 TFL on the season while playing the run exceptionally well.”
Little to Indicate Braswell is Impact Player
Braswell, who signed a 4-year, $6.78 million rookie contract, hasn’t shown much in 2 seasons that would indicate he’s going to be any part of the answer for the Buccaneers. As a rookie in 2024, he played in all 17 games and finished with 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks. In 10 regular season games in 2025 he has 20 tackles and zero sacks.
Some of the responses to the news of Braswell’s injured ankle were telling.
“Can’t tell when he’s actually playing so it doesn’t matter,” Buccaneers fan Andrew Lindsay wrote on X.
“Non-factor anyways,” Buccaneers fan JD Riley wrote on X.
“Chris Braswell is about as invisible as a second-round pick can get,” Joe Bucs Fan wrote on its official X account on November 9. “Even (former backup QB) Kyle Trask threw a couple of passes.”
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