Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell Drafted by close rivals.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected former Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell with the 57th overall choice in the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday night.

The Tampa Buccaneers are the most recent team to have a Crimson Tide product, with Braswell being the only former Alabama standout on the squad.

In the 2022-23 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s edge rushing tandem was primarily in the hands of Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. Once Anderson was drafted by the Houston Texans with the third overall pick—and eventually crowned as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year—Alabama needed another edge/linebacker hybrid to emerge.

Braswell was the answer as he finished this past season second on the team and fifth in the conference with eight sacks, and logged 42 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and an SEC-best three forced fumbles. He also blocked a kick and logged a pick-six. Braswell was named to the All-SEC Second Team.

“Bras is a really really good player,” former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said on the NFL Draft broadcast. “A great pass-rusher, can turn speed to power and makes some big time plays. He plays better standing up and is more skilled as a defensive end. He can drop too.”

Braswell becomes the fifth Crimson Tide prospect to hear his name called in this year’s draft, as he joins, offensive tackle JC Latham (Tennessee Titans, seventh overall), the aforementioned Dallas Turner (Minnesota Vikings, 17th overall), cornerback Terrion Arnold (Detroit Lions, 24th overall) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (New Orleans Saints, 41st overall).

Player Info

Jersey: No. 4
Position: EDGE
DOB: October 21, 2001
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
High School: Saint Frances Academy
Recruiting Class: 2020
Recruiting Rating: Consensus 5-star, No. 39 overall, No. 2 at position, No. 3 in the state
Did he play in an All-Star Game? Under Armour All-America Game

Accomplishments

Tied for the SEC lead and 15th nationally with three forced fumbles in 2023. Was second on the team and third in the conference with eight sacks. Finished his final season for the Crimson Tide with 42 total tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown and a blocked field goal.

2023 second-team All-SEC (AP)
Was selected one of the coaching staff’s defensive players of the week six times (Middle Tennessee, USF, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky and Auburn) in 2023