Pitt EDGE Rashad Weaver is long, strong, and versatile — like Steve Spagnuolo prefers

A very Merry Draftmas to you!

We continue our tradition of profiling an NFL Draft prospect every day in April, leading up to the NFL Draft on April 29th. Every day, you’ll get a prospect profile that includes how they would fit with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prefers a definite “type” of defensive end. He likes his defenders to have length, play with power, be on the larger side at the position, and have the ability to rush from the interior. There are a handful of these kind of players in every draft — and today’s writeup features a Day 3 player who checks almost every one of those boxes.

Rashad Weaver, defensive end

Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

6’4” | 259 lbs | Pittsburgh

Cooper City, FL

Expected draft range: Day 3

Pro Day: 4.88 40-yard dash, 32” vertical jump, 114” broad jump, 20 bench press, 4.26 short shuttle, 6.97 3-cone

One-sentence bio: Two-year starter at Pittsburgh who recovered from an ACL tear in the 2019 preseason to be named a first-team All-American in 2020

One-sentence scouting report: A long, physical, high IQ defensive end with an advanced pass rush plan — and the versatility to kick inside on passing downs

One play:

How he fits in Kansas City: At his pro day, Weaver missed two of Spagnuolo’s preferred defensive end traits — weight and bench press — but played heavier and more powerfully than his numbers would indicate. Almost immediately, he would be capable to serve as a rotational defensive end opposite Frank Clark in the base defense — and in the dime packages, Weaver’s defined pass rush plan would give defensive line coach Brendan Daly another piece with which to work.

Despite lacking an elite athletic profile, Weaver’s length, quick mental processing and versatility could keep him in the league a long time. That lack of athleticism — and potentially shaky injury history — will likely cause him to fall farther than his collegiate production would suggest he should. If the Chiefs aren’t attacking defensive end early in the draft, Weaver would make a lot of sense as a player who can offer early rotational snaps — and eventually become a starter.

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