The Bucs selected linebacker Chris Braswell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Crimson Tide defender at the time was seen as a mix of edge rusher and linebacker, making him a potentially fun chess piece for Todd Bowles in his defense.
Fast forward to 2025, Braswell is now entering a second season with higher expectations, prompting the team to seek more immediate results.
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Todd Bowles was asked this week about the performance he has seen from his young edge rusher and the tone was an encouraging one. While the regular season is what matters, Bowles painted a picture that is setting him up to be in the driver’s seat for his own success.
Bowles explained, saying, “He’s been taking the next step since he got back to [training] camp. His game doesn’t revolve around sacks – you have to be a good overall football player. He’s playing faster and smarter, doing a lot of little things that go unnoticed. We have no problem putting him in the rotation. He’s also become a heck of a special teams player. He’s playing with more physicality because he’s playing faster and understanding what he’s doing, and that’s what we like about him.”
This is going to be a major year for Braswell; everything is on the line for his future in Tampa Bay. If he can find success, even in a mild way, just showing more development, the team can work with that. What they can’t work with is him wasting another year.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs HC Todd Bowles on LB Chris Braswell: ‘He’s playing faster’