NFL Hot Press: Multiple Teams Grade Curtis Weaver in Mid-Rounds






Multiple Teams Grade Curtis Weaver in Mid-Rounds

Updated Jan. 28, 2020
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

Some in the media have projected Boise State edge rusher Curtis Weaver to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. For the Broncos, Weaver was a productive and prolific edge rusher over the past three seasons. After 11 sacks as a freshman, 9.5 in 2018, and then 13.5 as a junior, Weaver decided to skip his senior year to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. While some in the media have projected him to get selected in the opening night of the 2020 NFL Draft, multiple team sources have told me they graded Weaver as a mid-rounder.

A few teams had Weaver in the third round, and a couple had Weaver in the third/fourth round. They felt Weaver was a try-hard player who faces some some physical limitations for the NFL. Weaver is listed at 6-foot-3, 266 pounds, and often times those numbers are inflated by colleges. It will be interesting to see Weaver’s measurements at the NFL Scouting Combine, but even if those are accurate, they are still not ideal size and length for a pro edge rusher.

“We gave him a [third/fourth round] grade,” said one director of college scouting. “The only caveat is it being a thin edge rush class, so that could push him up if a team reaches for need.”

The 2020 NFL Draft is known to be a strong year for talent at wide receiver, offensive tackle, and running back. But this is a very weak class for edge rushers, so that works in Weaver’s favor as there are plenty of teams wanting to improve their pass rush in every draft. However heading into the combine, multiple teams feel that Weaver is a second-day prospect and not a first-round talent.