Why isn’t Boise State edge Curtis Weaver ranked higher?

It’s hard to find a quality pass rusher.

So you’d think a player like Boise State edge Curtis Weaver would be a hot commodity in the 2020 NFL draft. After all, Weaver’s 13.5 sacks was sixth in the nation, and his 18.5 tackles for loss was just three shy of the most in the NCAA.

But scouts have been lukewarm on the 6-foot-3, 265-pound redshirt junior. Weaver has yet to make his NFL draft intentions public.

Boise State’s Curtis Weaver has high-level ability off the edge 💪 pic.twitter.com/19Mu8l5023

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 15, 2019

His last game didn’t help his draft stock. Weaver was held to just two tackles in the team’s 38-7 loss to Boise State in the Dec. 21 Las Vegas Bowl. He also failed to record a QB hit or pressure in 35 dropbacks.

Perhaps most discouraging was the fact that it came against a Huskies team that was playing without left tackle Trey Adams, who declined to play so he can focus on the draft.

Still, Boise State has a habit of producing NFL-caliber players, including former Bronco pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who recently signed a big contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys and has similar size to Weaver.

Where the two players differ, though, is their athleticism, flexibility and ability to finish plays – all question marks for Weaver.

“Weaver still has heavy and skilled hands and often outworks his opponents to make impact plays,” writes Yahoo Sports NFL draft analyst Eric Edholm. “But he’s just not a first-round caliber prospect. We’d rather see him land in the Day 2 range to better reflect his talent and reasonable expectations.”

Walter Football was more blunt in its assessment:

“Team sources say that Weaver is a good college player who is a try-hard guy, but he has physical limitations for the NFL.”