Player
Chris Braswell
EDGE · Buccaneers
An EDGE rusher whose QB hits drop by half while solo tackles nearly double isn't just getting more snaps — the coaching staff has changed his job description. That re-framing matters for understanding what Tampa expects from him in year 3.
Braswell flipped his game in year 2: from pass-rush sub to run-stopping starter.
TrendRole shift by season (reg season)
| Season | Solo Tackles | QB Hits | TFLs | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
As a 2024 2nd-round rookie Braswell played almost purely as a pass-rush sub — 8 QB hits dwarfed his 11 solo tackles. In year 2 that ratio inverted: 20 solo tackles and only 4 QB hits. The Bucs have re-deployed him as a run-side edge, a fundamentally different defensive role.
Why it matters. An EDGE rusher whose QB hits drop by half while solo tackles nearly double isn't just getting more snaps — the coaching staff has changed his job description. That re-framing matters for understanding what Tampa expects from him in year 3.
3 of Braswell's 4 TFLs in 2025 were run stops — rare for a drafted EDGE.
MilestoneBraswell 2025 TFLs by play type
| Play Type | TFLs |
|---|---|
| Run stop | 3 |
| Sack (pass) | 1 |
Braswell's 4 TFLs this season sound like pass-rush progress, but 3 of them came by reading and attacking runs in the backfield, not by getting to the quarterback. Most 2nd-round EDGE picks develop toward more sacks in year 2 — Braswell's TFL growth is pointing a different direction entirely.
Why it matters. TFL growth is typically driven by sack volume for EDGE rushers. When most TFLs are run stops it means the player is being asked to set edges and two-gap rather than pin his ears back — a coaching vote of confidence in his football IQ but not in his pass-rush finishing.
Rookie role: pass-rush specialist. Year 2: more complete edge.
SplitRole mix shift (reg season)
| Stat | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Tackles | 11 | 20 |
| Tackle Assists | 7 | 9 |
| TFLs | 1 | 4 |
| Sacks | 1 | 1 |
| QB Hits | 8 | 4 |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 | 0 |
As a rookie, Braswell was mostly a sub-package rusher — 8 QB hits against only 11 solo tackles. In year 2 he's been used more like a full-time edge, with tackle volume up and pure rush counts down. Both seasons, the sack total stayed at 1.
Why it matters. The split reveals that Braswell's increased snap count in 2025 came at the cost of his primary skill in year 1. His pass-rush opportunities dropped as his run-defense duties grew — a trade-off that bears watching in contract and development discussions.
17% QB-hit-to-sack rate — 4th lowest among active edge rushers in 2024–25.
AnomalyLowest sack-conversion rates (2024–25, 8+ QB hits)
| Player | QB Hits | Sacks | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. Elliss | 8 | 1 | 12.5% |
| A. Carter | 23 | 3 | 13.0% |
| J. Ward | 36 | 5 | 13.9% |
| C. Braswell | 12 | 2 | 16.7% |
| P. Queen | 10 | 2 | 20.0% |
Across all LBs and DEs with 8+ QB hits in the 2024 and 2025 regular seasons combined, Braswell's 17% sack-conversion rate ranks 4th worst. He generates pressure — but almost never finishes it with a sack.
Why it matters. Sack conversion is the key development milestone for any pass rusher. A 17% rate two years into a career signals either a finishing-technique deficit or that Braswell is being used in a role (run-side edge, pursuit) where clean sack chances are rare by design.
A 3rd-round pick from his own draft class has 4x as many career sacks.
Comparison2024 draft class LB/DE/OLB — career sacks (2024–25 reg season)
| Player | Round | Pick | Career Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Verse | 1 | 19 | 14 |
| Dallas Turner | 1 | 17 | 10 |
| Chop Robinson | 1 | 21 | 8 |
| Jalyx Hunt | 3 | 94 | 8 |
| Jonah Elliss | 3 | 76 | 6 |
| Chris Braswell | 2 | 57 | 2 |
Jalyx Hunt, a 3rd-round pick (94th overall), has 8 career sacks. Jonah Elliss, also a 3rd-rounder (76th overall), has 6. Braswell — Tampa's 2nd-round (57th overall) investment — has 2. Being outproduced in sacks by two later-round players from the same class is the clearest measure of how far his pass-rush development has to go.
Why it matters. Draft capital comparisons tell teams whether they're getting expected value. Braswell's 2-sack total trailing 3rd-rounders from his own class after two seasons is a concrete, draft-round-adjusted measure of production deficit that the Bucs front office must be tracking heading into year 3.
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