The next couple of months are bound to bring shakeups to the current Bucs roster, just as the team shook up its coaching staff. It is certainly needed after a highly disappointing 8-9 season. General manager Jason Licht and the rest of the front office have players to re-sign, others to sign through free agency, and then they must put the finishing touches on the roster through the NFL Draft and signing undrafted free agents.
It is a balancing act, one that will require outside-the-box thinking to assemble the best 90 players for OTAs, the mandatory mini-camp, and training camp. One homegrown player is in danger of being let go, with underwhelming production likely squeezing him out of the picture entirely.
Bucs OLB Chris Braswell’s Roster Spot In 2026 Is Far From Guaranteed
When it comes to recent draft classes, the Bucs have brought in an impressive wave of talent. In particular, the past two draft hauls have netted plenty of starters in center Graham Barton, safety Tykee Smith, wide receiver Jalen McMillan, running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Jacob Parrish.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, WR Emeka Egbuka and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
And there are high hopes for cornerback Benjamin Morrison, outside linebacker David Walker, and defensive tackle Elijah Roberts being in line for significant roles in 2026, too. Yet with all of the fine work by Tampa Bay’s front office in evaluating young players, there was one critical misfire – outside linebacker Chris Braswell.
Braswell was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the hope being that he would complement Yaya Diaby and form the second part of the outside pass rushing duo. Instead, Braswell has been a bust through his first two seasons and has failed to show enough to earn head coach Todd Bowles’ trust.
Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
Despite playing in all 34 games in 2024 and 2025, Braswell has yet to make a single start. He has 48 total tackles, 12 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, and just 2.5 sacks during that time frame.
While displaying some flashes in his rookie year, his sophomore campaign failed to see him earn an increase in playing time. Even though Hasson Reddick missed time due to injury and struggled, Braswell could not find a way to see the field over veteran reserve Anthony Nelson, except during garbage time at the end of games. As a result, he went from playing 30% of the defensive snaps in 2024 to just 27% in 2025.
With the Bucs needing an infusion of talent at the position, the once promising player could become the odd man out. In a story going over one player from each NFL team needing a change of scenery this offseason, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz chose Braswell, which makes a lot of sense, having this to say.
The Bucs selected Braswell with the No. 57 pick in 2024, and the linebacker out of Alabama was supposed to be a talented pass rusher with good burst and a variety of pass-rushing moves. However, Braswell hasn’t had much time on the field to show off those moves. He has never started a game in the NFL and has just 2.5 career sacks.
Last season, he played less than 25% of defensive snaps in 11 contests and more than 50% of defensive snaps in just one game. The likely departure of Haason Reddick in free agency might open up a starting spot for Braswell, but it is more likely that Braswell needs to go to a new team with a new coaching staff in order to get his chance to finally reach his NFL potential.
The Path To Playing Time For Chris Braswell Has All But Disappeared
No matter how you slice it, giving Chris Braswell more playing time would seem like a lost cause at this point.
Braswell’s chance to develop into something more was immediately after being drafted – not in what is lining up to be a make-or-break year for the 2026 Bucs. Trusting him to be a second or third choice on the depth chart would be a costly mistake because he has had two years to demonstrate he is worth more playing time and failed to produce. The only path he has to make the team is as a bubble player solely for special teams work where he actually excels.
Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Even then, reserve pass rusher Markees Watts outplayed Braswell 61% to 46% on special teams units last season, and it remains to be seen what new special teams coordinator Danny Smith decides to do in revamping what was a poorly performing group.
Even if Braswell makes the team as the final outside linebacker, his margin for error is gone. As Aaron Schatz points out, it is possible Braswell has played his last snap in Tampa Bay.
Any trade compensation moving on from him would be a swap of late Day 3 picks or tossing him in as the littlest of sweeteners for Raiders general manager John Spytek in a potential trade for Maxx Crosby. Spytek was a fan of Braswell’s, serving as part of the brain trust in selecting him during the 2024 NFL Draft. Maybe Braswell could get some run on a team picking No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It seems like this is the end of the road for Braswell’s time in Tampa Bay. Jason Licht is not one to hold on to draft busts just to save face. Not every draft pick will work out, and in Chris Braswell’s case, he is the perfect candidate for a change of scenery.