Once again, Nick Caserio made another under the radar, savvy move to bolder the roster.
Chris Braswell was a five-star recruit out of high school but had to wait his turn behind a star-star-studed Alabama roster. Braswell replaced Will Anderson Jr. at Alabama as the Jack linebacker in their 3-4 front and didn’t disappoint. His impressive eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss were second on the team behind Dallas Turner who went 17th overall to the Vikings in 2024.
He was a redshirt junior when he entered
the draft after only one year of true production at Alabama. The NFL Stock Exchange podcast had him rated as the fourth and sixth defensive end in the 2024 class. They noted “how raw of a player” he was and that he is built exceptionally well, but lacked a “pass rush plan” and could only rush with power. A ‘toolsy” prospect with an Alabama pedigree, NFL stars have been made of much worse material.
Peering back into my own draft analysis from 2o24, I noted that his pass rush ability was “simple” rather than nuanced. It didn’t shine off the tape like his counterpart Turner did. I thought he set the edge well, was asked to contain, but wasn’t the money-maker on defense. He would go on to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round.
The limitations mentioned came true. His lack of a plan and limited bag of tricks made him easy to predict in the pass rush. At 6’3”, 250 pounds, he’s a thick and powerful edge but never earned a start in two seasons with Tampa Bay. A lack of production immediately soured his relationship with the coaching staff. It’s not as though the Bucs were great at rushing the passer either, Yaya Diaby led the team with seven sacks. His ineffectiveness lead to the team selecting Ruben Bain in the first round of this year’s draft.
This was a critical offseason for him. Unfortunately, Braswell missed games two and three of the preseason, plus he was generally outplayed by David Walker and Anthony Nelson. The Bucs would release him, which meant they had no intention to sign him to their own practice squad.
Braswell is a story of ‘what could have been’. It’s a classic tale of untapped potential that plagues many a prospect that enters the league. For the Buccaneers to quit on their second round pick after two seasons let’s you know their opinion of him. Two and a half sacks in two years doesn’t cut it and is why he was let go entirely.
Now in Houston, he reunites with Will Anderson Jr and Logan Hall who played in Tampa Bay previously. Braswell will train as the team’s sole defensive end on the practice squad. Given the team’s recent score of injuries at the position, there’s a chance he could be elevated onto the roster in short order.
Braswell played as an outside linebacker both at Alabama and Tampa Bay. Houston’s 4-3 defense would require him to set the edge more and rush the passer. It’s a great opportunity for Braswell to train, add to his repertoire, and turn into the player he was projected to be. If there’s an ecosystem for a raw linebacker to hone their craft, it’s Houston.
For Houston, it’s a savvy, high-upside move that could pay off for both player and team. The Texans need depth at defensive end, and while he hasn’t been productive in his backup role, he’s a more than capable break-glass option. It will be intriguing to watch Braswell change schemes entering his third season. For now, he’s behind Dominique Robinson, UDFA Sebastian Harsh, and Jadeveon Clowney on the depth chart.
