With The First Pick
Fansided

2020 NFL Draft: Testing will make or break Cal linebacker Evan Weaver

By Cory Kinnan

CORVALLIS, OR - OCTOBER 20: Linebacker Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears celebrates a tackle during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
CORVALLIS, OR - OCTOBER 20: Linebacker Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears celebrates a tackle during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 14: Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears breaks up the pass to Jyaire Shorter #16 of the North Texas Mean Green on fourth down and 13 yards to go late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Berkeley, California. California won the game 23-17. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 14: Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears breaks up the pass to Jyaire Shorter #16 of the North Texas Mean Green on fourth down and 13 yards to go late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Berkeley, California. California won the game 23-17. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Weaver against the pass

This part of Evan Weaver’s eval will hurt him a bit in the eyes of NFL scouts and general manager as he does not possess a ton of versatility and has to remain relegated to the middle of the field in coverage. Due to his lack of speed, it is rare to see Weaver slide into the flats or deep flat in coverage, but rather he is either spying the opposing quarterback or playing the hook/curl zone.

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/1056348708231512068?s=20

At the next level, this may project Weaver as just a two-down linebacker who comes off the field in passing situations. While an elite run stopper, there is an obvious vulnerability to Weaver’s game when asked to drop back in coverage. At the next level, it seems unlikely that he will be able to hang with tight ends down the field or track running backs out of the backfield.

He does, however, do what he is asked to do well. Is his lack of movement in coverage due to coaching or due to his athletic ability? At this point it seems to be due to his lack of ability to change direction with fluidity. While Weaver is great in the middle of the field, he cannot get outside the numbers in coverage efficiently.

Home/NFL Draft Scouting Reports