The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent a second-round pick on Alabama pass rusher Chris Braswell during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Through his first two seasons, Braswell hasn’t provided much return on investment, and patience could be wearing thin.
Chris Braswell could be on Buccaneers roster bubble entering 2026 season
The Buccaneers have invested heavily at the outside linebacker spot this offseason, as the pass rush has been their defense’s biggest weakness for a few years now.
The team signed Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency, who is coming off an 11-sack season for the Detroit Lions in 2025.
They also drafted Rueben Bain Jr. with their first-round draft choice, and he’s going to step into the starting role opposite YaYa Diaby.
Between Diaby, Bain, and Muhammad, the first three spots on the depth chart are locked in.
Last year’s fourth-round pick David Walker is returning from a season-ending injury, and the front office remains very high on the young pass rusher. Walker was dominating last preseason before a torn ACL ended his season before it began. He recorded 39 sacks during his four-year college career and is one of the team’s most promising young players.
Assuming Walker takes that fourth spot, Braswell could be the odd man out. The team could very well keep a fifth edge rusher, but that spot would likely go to veteran Anthony Nelson over Braswell.
Nelson has notched at least three sacks for five consecutive seasons. He’s a Todd Bowles favorite and presents a high floor as a rotational pass rusher at the bottom of the depth chart. Last season, Nelson single-handedly took over a game against the New Orleans Saints — finishing with two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception returned for a touchdown.
Braswell likely finds himself as the team's OLB6 as things stand currently, and unless he makes a big impact throughout OTAs and the preseason, there’s a chance he finds himself on the chopping block when it comes time for roster cuts.
Add us as a preferred source on Google