Scouting Report: Chris Braswell (EDGE) - Alabama
Sales Pitch: “Well rounded prospect with few weaknesses in his game. Lacks an elite trait or defining characteristic that would indicate a future star but possesses a nice blend of speed and power for the position. Smart, tough player who should be a quality starter at EDGE.”
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 3 3/8”
Weight: 251 lbs
Arm Length: 33 1/4”
Hand Size: 9 3/8”
40 Yard Dash: 4.60
10 Yard Split: 1.58
Vertical: 33.5”
Broad Jump: 9’ 7”
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 22
Relative Athletic Score: 8.73 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 97 Pressures - 18 Sacks - 22 Tackles - 24 STOPs
2023: 56 Pressures - 13 Sacks - 12 Tackles - 12 STOPs
Strengths
Solid linear athlete w/ a powerful lower half
Smart, tough player w/ a consistent motor
Balance and core strength to stay on track through through contact
Versatile pass rusher that can win with both speed and power
Core set of effective pass rush moves include club rip and long arm
Displays effort and closing speed as a pass rusher
Leverages his gap extremely well in run game
Not afraid of bringing contact to lineman as an edge setter
Strong powerful hands capable of stunning and shedding blockers
Good pursuit angles as a backside defender
Creates good displacement as the entry player on stunts and twists
Versatility to drop in coverage or reduce inside on passing downs
Weaknesses
Rotational player in college with late breakout
Below average lateral movement skills
Average bend and flexibility in his midsection
Pass rush arsenal needs to develop more counters and secondary moves
Limited arm length leads to struggles vs top tier tackles
Inconsistent ability to tackle ball carriers in space
Lacks an elite trait to fall back on
Slow to attack off line from a three point stance
Limited agility limits his effectiveness as a looper on stunts and twists
Summary
Chris Braswell is a former 5-Star recruit and was the #2 overall player from the state of Maryland in 2019. Unlike the typical top recruit, Braswell struggled to get on the field early in his career, operating largely as a rotational player until his breakout season in 2023. Even in 2023, a season in which he logged 13 sacks and 50+ pressures, he only started one game. Braswell has a well rounded physical profile with good linear athleticism and play strength on a muscular frame. He is able to win as a pass rusher with both speed and power. While he doesn’t have a diverse arsenal of pass rush moves his go to moves - the club rip, long arm and chop move - are all very effective. Braswell doesn’t possess ideal bend to turn the corner but he makes up for it with good contact balance and low pad level. He also displays the motor and pursuit skills to close and finish on quarterbacks at the top of his rush. In the run game Braswell has powerful hands that he uses to stun lineman and shed blocks. He displays good read and react skills that should allow him to live in a variety of run schemes. He is at his best in the run game taking on pullers or kickout blocks where his strike power and physical toughness shine. Braswell is not a particularly athletic player when asked to move laterally. He struggles to tackle in space and win as a looper on stunts as a result. He also has below average length, leading to him getting swallowed up and steered out of plays by bigger lineman. Braswell projects as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB that spends a majority of his time outside the tackle. He does have the ability to drop into coverage or reduce inside on passing downs, increasing his sub package versatility. Braswell lacks that elite trait or special characteristic most top end pass rushers have and it will likely keep him out of the first round as a result. He projects as a consistent quality starter opposite a true EDGE 1 due to his well rounded game with few weaknesses.