Cleveland Browns: 5 biggest training camp wildcards

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Malik McDowell #4 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Malik McDowell #4 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Cleveland Browns
Sep 6, 2019; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos linebacker Curtis Weaver (99) pressures Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Isaiah Green (17) during the second half at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

2. EDGE Curtis Weaver

Curtis Weaver was an extremely productive college player, totaling 34 sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss over three seasons at Boise State. He has a very odd athletic profile; an unusual 6-2, 265-pound frame, poor explosiveness, and elite agility, all of which show up on tape.

He lacks burst, but shows quality hand usage and excellent bend, which made him one of Pro Football Focus’s top 25 prospects. He fell all the way to the fifth round due to injury concerns, and was then cut after just a week of practice. The Browns claimed him and stashed him on injured reserve all year, and he has worked hard to “transform” his body according to general manager Andrew Berry.

The top three EDGE spots are taken by Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, and Takk McKinley, but with how much defensive coordinator Joe Woods likes to rotate his linemen, the fourth end will have a role, and that could be Weaver.

He’ll need to show off that transformed body as well as increased aggressiveness in run support if he hopes to earn a spot, but his technique and bend give him two superior traits. We’ll see if the risk the team took ends up paying off.