Cleveland Browns land defensive end Curtis Weaver
By Randy Gurzi
Curtis Weaver claimed by Cleveland Browns
At one point, Boise State defensive end Curtis Weaver looked poised to be a day two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, his star faded some leading up to the draft and Weaver ended up slipping into the fifth round.
Once there, the Miami Dolphins decided to trade up for his services, surrendering the 173rd and 227th overall selections to take Weaver at 164.
However, Weaver didn’t last long at all with Miami as they waived the defensive end after he sustained a foot injury. Their plan was apparently to bring him back to the team on the IR but the Cleveland Browns messed that up as they put in a claim for Weaver.
The #Browns have claimed rookie pass rusher Curtis Weaver off waivers from the #Dolphins, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 25, 2020
Miami waived its fifth-round pick as injured with the intention of putting him on IR. Instead, a fresh start.
Apparently the Browns weren’t the only team interested in adding him either as the Los Angeles Rams reportedly also put in a claim but with Cleveland finishing at 6-10 and L.A. going 9-7, they were given the priority in waiver claims.
Weaver spent three seasons with Boise State and was very productive in each of those years. He had 34 sacks in three seasons which started with 11 as a freshman and finished with 13.5 in his final season with the Broncos.
With Weaver not fully healthy, the plan in Cleveland is likely to stash him for a year and then bring him to the roster in 2021 to provide more depth behind Myles Garrett. They currently also have Olivier Vernon but he’s entering the final season of his contract.
Next. Get the Colts on the phone about Malik Hooker. dark
This is a move that was made with an eye on the future and Weaver could turn out to be a talented rotational edge rusher for the Browns.