Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie edge rusher Chris Braswell has quickly adapted to the NFL, establishing himself as a solid player.
Braswell, 22, played his college ball at the University of Alabama. He earned second-team All-SEC recognition in 2023, when he totaled 42 tackles (10.5 for loss), eight sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception. The Baltimore native and Saint Frances graduate was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Braswell has played in every game for the Bucs this season, keeping opposing quarterbacks in check. Braswell has steadily found his footing while adjusting to the intensity level of the NFL.
“I didn’t think that NFL games would be that loud but there definitely was a time where it was really loud and I forgot what the play call was,” Braswell said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 18. “It was kind of shocking to me. I was like, ‘Oh, never mind, it’s actually a lot louder than what people expected it to be.'”
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound edge rusher has posted 11 tackles through seven games, including his first half-sack at New Orleans in Week 6.
“It definitely feels good. It’s a different ballgame, different league, so you’ve got to strain more to get those and just got to take advantage of the opportunities,” Braswell said. “A lot more will come, so I’ve got to stay patient and keep working my craft and my game.”
Braswell delivered three tackles and two quarterback hits in a commanding blowout victory against the Saints.
“I definitely felt confident. I was in the lab working all week on different types of moves and just working on some small things that I wanted to get better at,” Braswell said. “The goal is just to try to progress each and every week and get better.”
Braswell reunited with Owings Mills native and Calvert Hall graduate Sean Tucker in Tampa Bay. Tucker signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent last spring. Both players are enjoying strong seasons, adding a special element to their reunion.
Tucker had himself a game against New Orleans, carrying 14 times for 136 yards and one touchdown.
“I knew who Sean Tucker was. I played against him in high school at Saint Frances when we were in the MIAA,” Braswell said. “I played against him before. I mean, he was pretty much doing the same thing in high school, so I knew he was going to be special.”
With Hurricane Milton bearing down on the region, the Bucs left Tampa five days before the game in New Orleans and held practices at Tulane University. Knowing what the community was going through, the team wanted to lift the spirits of Bucs fans back home.
“It meant a lot for us. A lot of people were dealing with things back in Tampa while were down prepping for New Orleans. We just wanted to go out there and go get a dub for the city of Tampa and just give them something to cheer for and be happy about,” Braswell said.
Braswell has been able to find comfort and confidence at Tampa. The hard work that he and the team have been putting in has gotten the Bucs off to a solid start, but Braswell gives the credit to the man in charge.
“I would just say coach [Todd] Bowles. He has his standard and we just try to play to the standard,” Braswell said. “Everybody on the team is trying to play to the standard and he’s hard on us, he demands the best out of everybody and he’s a great coach.”
For more from Braswell, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers