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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) /
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears reacts after he tackled Anthony Gordon #18 of the Washington State Cougars short of a first down on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears reacts after he tackled Anthony Gordon #18 of the Washington State Cougars short of a first down on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

A few final thoughts on Evan Weaver

Right now this writer projects Weaver as a day two pick based off of film and production. However, maybe more than any other prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft, Weaver’s performance in Indianapolis in a few months may have more of a bearing on his draft stock than anything else.

In today’s passing nature of the NFL, Weaver will need to show that he has the athletic ability to track downfield with the fast tight ends such as O.J. Howard, David Njoku, Darren Waller, and Travis Kelce. His film does not show much versatility to do such a task, but again, he may not be asked to turn his hips and run downfield in the current defensive system he finds himself in.

An elite run stopper, Weaver needs to prove that he is not the type of linebacker to be pigeon-holed into a two-down backer in run situations only. If Weaver runs a sub-4.8 second 40 yard dash and hangs around the seven second mark in the 3-cone drill, then he will consider that a win as his draft stock could hang around a day-two pick at that point.

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Linebacker is not a priority position in the NFL right now, which does not help Weaver’s case, but with elite production and good film, it is hard to ignore the Cal senior. Weaver’s film demands respect, but he still has much to prove to NFL teams.

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