Overview
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 265 pounds
School: Boise State Broncos
Combine Performance Data
Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 8 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.00 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.27 seconds
Curtis Weaver 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Curtis Weaver put together an impressive high-school career as a strongside defensive end at St. Anthony in Long Beach, CA. He garnered interest from college programs all over the country as a result, receiving six Power-Five scholarship offers including two from Big Ten schools (Illinois and Wisconsin). He didn’t commit until national signing day 2016 and spurned the big-time programs who offered him by giving his pledge to one of the nation’s top Group of Five schools in Boise State.
After a redshirt year, Weaver proceeded to become a regular force in opposing backfields over the next three seasons. He announced his arrival in a big way during the 2017 season when he registered 11 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and an interception en route to Freshman All-American honors. His sack numbers took a bit of a dip a year later as he managed just 9.5. But he added 15 more stops for a loss which ranked second in the Mountain West. 2019 would be his final year with the Broncos as he declared for the draft after the season. It probably didn’t come as much of a surprise to most given his continued eye-raising production: 13.5 sacks (T-5th in FBS) and 18.5 tackles for loss (T-12th in FBS).
Naturally, Weaver racked up quite a few accolades during his time in Boise. In addition to the aforementioned Freshman All-American recognition, he received first-team all-Mountain West notice in all three of his collegiate seasons. And as a redshirt junior in 2019, he was named a second-team Associated Press All-American and took home the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.
Strengths
- hugely impressive and consistent sack/tackle for loss production during college career;
- hands are active and violent when attacking opposing linemen;
- positions himself well to slither into the inside gap;
- a rather fluid mover in space;
- an intelligent rusher with solid instincts;
- boasts experience as both a weakside and strongside rusher.
Weaknesses
- not too much of a physical specimen;
- power rush doesn’t really show up on film;
- isn’t particularly explosive off the snap;
- plays too upright and struggles to bend the edge against adept lateral movers;
- can get overpowered by maulers with proper blocking technique;
- motor tends to sputter a bit over the course of games.
NFL Comparison: Markus Golden
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals. Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins
Projection: Fourth to fifth round
Bottom Line
Over the past three college football seasons, few players rivaled Curtis Weaver in terms of being able to force negative plays week in and week out. His 34 career sacks are currently a Mountain West record and the second-highest total in Boise State history. Those scouts and other talent evaluators who adhere to the notion that players can successfully transition their production from college to the pros will certainly have their eye on Weaver. He’s a smart, instinctual player who’s elusive in space which makes him capable of blowing up plays in the backfield.
Perhaps the biggest concern surrounding Weaver is his ability to convert speed to power doesn’t jump out which will inhibit his ability to dominate at the point of attack against the top tackles in the league. That probably creates a limit to his ceiling. But he does have a future at the next level and is probably an early day three selection come late April.
