Dolphins gamble backfires as DE Curtis Weaver is claimed on waivers
Happy trails, Curtis Weaver! We barely knew ye.
The Miami Dolphins traded up to selection Curtis Weaver with the No. 164 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that didn’t stop the team from rolling the dice to open up another roster spot while in training camp when it became apparent that Weaver, who was injured over the weekend, will not play this season.
The Dolphins surprised yesterday with their decision to waive Weaver with the intention of adding him back onto the practice squad today once the rookie pass rusher cleared the waiver wire — but Weaver in fact was claimed. The news has just come out that the Cleveland Browns are willing to invest a camp roster spot on Weaver between now and the cut-down date to active 53-man rosters before placing Weaver on the injured reserve list for the season.
The #Browns have claimed rookie pass rusher Curtis Weaver off waivers from the #Dolphins, source said.
Miami waived its fifth-round pick as injured with the intention of putting him on IR. Instead, a fresh start.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 25, 2020
The Dolphins initially surrendered picks No. 173 and 227 overall to trade up for Weaver, so it isn’t as though Miami has sunk a ton of cost into the player — but this marks the second consecutive season that Miami will cut and lose a player before the end of their rookie season. Miami made a decision to part ways with rookie OL Isaiah Prince last fall after drafting him on Day 3 and has now parted ways with Weaver after surrendering his rights.
If the Dolphins look to contend this season and getting Trent Harris or some other defender into the building as early as possible is the necessary route, so be it. But never the less it doesn’t ease the sting of knowing that Miami wasted a draft selection, especially when that player does come at a long-term position of need and was well regarded for his pass rush prowess while at Boise State.
Miami’s callous handling of Weaver seems to indicate that they aren’t quite as enamored with him as a long-term piece and that the team could “take it or leave it” as it pertains to keeping Weaver around. They gambled and they lost — and so now they’ll have no other choice but to leave Weaver in the history books as a former Dolphin draft pick, but never really a Dolphin player after strapping on the pads for just a week of practice before landing in Cleveland.
