As soon as once more, Nick Caserio made one other underneath the radar, savvy transfer to bolder the roster.
Chris Braswell was a five-star recruit out of highschool however needed to wait his flip behind a star-star-studed Alabama roster. Braswell changed Will Anderson Jr. at Alabama because the Jack linebacker of their 3-4 entrance and didn’t disappoint. His spectacular eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss have been second on the crew behind Dallas Turner who went seventeenth total to the Vikings in 2024.
He was a redshirt junior when he entered the draft after just one 12 months of true manufacturing at Alabama. The t had him rated because the fourth and sixth defensive finish within the 2024 class. They famous “how uncooked of a participant” he was and that he’s constructed exceptionally nicely, however lacked a “go rush plan” and will solely rush with energy. A ‘toolsy” prospect with an Alabama pedigree, NFL stars have been made from a lot worse materials.
Peering again into my very own draft evaluation from 2o24, I famous that his go rush capability was “easy” relatively than nuanced. It didn’t shine off the tape like his counterpart Turner did. I assumed he set the sting nicely, was requested to include, however wasn’t the money-maker on protection. He would go on to be chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the second spherical.
The constraints talked about got here true. His lack of a plan and restricted bag of tips made him straightforward to foretell within the go rush. At 6’3”, 250 kilos, he’s a thick and highly effective edge however by no means earned a begin in two seasons with Tampa Bay. A scarcity of manufacturing instantly soured his relationship with the teaching workers. It’s not as if the Bucs have been nice at speeding the passer both, Yaya Diaby led the crew with seven sacks. His ineffectiveness result in the crew choosing Ruben Bain within the first spherical of this 12 months’s draft.
This was a essential offseason for him. Sadly, Braswell missed video games two and three of the preseason, plus he was usually outplayed by David Walker and Anthony Nelson. The Bucs would launch him, which meant they’d no intention to signal him to their very own follow squad.
Braswell is a narrative of ‘what might have been’. It’s a traditional story of untapped potential that plagues many a prospect that enters the league. For the Buccaneers to stop on their second spherical decide after two seasons let’s you understand their opinion of him. Two and a half sacks in two years doesn’t reduce it and is why he was let go fully.
Now in Houston, he reunites with Will Anderson Jr and Logan Corridor who performed in Tampa Bay beforehand. Braswell will practice because the crew’s sole defensive finish on the follow squad. Given the crew’s latest rating of accidents on the place, there’s an opportunity he might be elevated onto the roster briefly order.
Braswell performed as an out of doors linebacker each at Alabama and Tampa Bay. Houston’s 4-3 protection would require him to set the sting extra and rush the passer. It’s an excellent alternative for Braswell to coach, add to his repertoire, and switch into the participant he was projected to be. If there’s an ecosystem for a uncooked linebacker to hone their craft, it’s Houston.
For Houston, it’s a savvy, high-upside transfer that might repay for each participant and crew. The Texans want depth at defensive finish, and whereas he hasn’t been productive in his backup function, he’s a greater than succesful break-glass choice. It is going to be intriguing to look at Braswell change schemes getting into his third season. For now, he’s behind Dominique Robinson, UDFA Sebastian Harsh, and Jadeveon Clowney on the depth chart.
