FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
- 2025 NFL Draft Guide
- 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
- 2025 NFL Mock Drafts
- Dynasty Mock Draft Simulator
2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Riley Leonard
Riley Leonard (QB – Notre Dame)
6-foot-4 | 216 Pounds
Background
Riley Leonard was a three-star recruit as a dual-threat quarterback out of high school, originally attending Duke, where he spent the first three years of his collegiate career. Started one game (seven appearances) in 2021, then took over the starting job the following year and went 9-4, with 2,967 yards (63.8% completion rate, 7.6 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 124-699-13 (5.6).
Missed time due to an ankle injury and then later to a toe injury, which finished his 2023 season early, ending the year with a 4-3 record, 1,102 yards (57.6% completion rate, 6.7 yards per attempt), three touchdowns and three interceptions, plus 58-352-4 (6.1) on the ground. Transferred to Notre Dame and took the team to the National Championship game this season with a 14-2 record. Totaled 2,861 passing yards (66.7% completion rate, 7.1 yards per attempt), 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions, plus a monster 184-906-17 (4.9) rushing line.
Positives
Put together a 27-10 career record as the starter between two programs, making his 2024 campaign his best yet. A well-built dual-threat quarterback with pro size. Plays with a nice, stable base from the pocket. Generally shows good alignment with his targets and flashes effective weight transfer.
Leonard gets the ball out quickly on rhythm-based throws underneath with a quick release. Shows the ability to work through progressions and reset his feet. Compensates for his lack of ideal arm strength with some anticipation on his throws. Avoids taking unnecessary risks with the football. Throws a pretty nice spiral and a catchable ball.
Can shrug off some tackle attempts or stay upright long enough to get the ball out. Shows a nice feel for pressure, with good pocket movement. Good athlete who can escape from pressure and pick up first-downs with his feet or complete passes while rolling to his right. Also used on designed runs. Has the speed to get to the edge on outside concepts.
Does a nice job of following blocks. Toughness shows up at the end of his runs. Is willing to lower the shoulder or take a shot to keep the chains moving. Notre Dame often asked him to carry the ball in short-yardage situations.
Negatives
Durability may be a concern given his 2023 injuries and the punishment he takes as a runner. Weight transfer can be inconsistent at times. His release point is a bit lower than you’d like — more of a three-quarters delivery that can dip a little bit below that. Would like to see him get a little bit more arc under some of his throws (fades/inside fades, etc.)
Leonard is a sort of a single-speed thrower who would benefit from taking something off some of his passes. Overall arm talent is average; might lack the velocity to rip throws into tight coverage without anticipation. Tends to spray the ball around a bit, with inconsistent placement, even on some plays where things look okay mechanically. Has some tendencies to drop his eyes when faced with pressure. Would like to see him protect his body better as a runner.
Summary
A true dual-threat quarterback who proved himself a winner at both Duke and Notre Dame. He is well-built for a pro quarterback, is relatively sound mechanically and shows the ability to work through progressions and make good decisions with the ball.
In addition, Leonard’s athleticism and toughness allow him to produce on designed runs or when escaping from pressure. However, his arm talent and accuracy are closer to average, which might relegate him to being more of a backup at the next level.
Projection: Round 6
Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports 
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Quarterbacks
Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)
A confident rhythm-based passer who works through progressions, makes pretty good decisions with the football and throws with impressive accuracy/placement. At his best, pulls the trigger early, puts the ball right on his target and works his way down the field methodically through a series of short and intermediate throws over the middle of the field.
However, Sadners can sometimes be too slow to get the ball out, can’t consistently escape from pressure when he’s being pursued and his overall arm talent is closer to adequate. Could draw a wide range of evaluations, as he’s not a perfect fit for every scheme, but still looks to be in the conversation for the first overall pick. He should easily be one of the first two or three passers off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Shedeur Sanders
A highly productive five-year starter who made major strides this past season after arriving at Miami. Ward plays with impressive composure, shows the ability to work through full-field reads and has solid arm talent and accuracy. Is capable of escaping from pressure and making the occasional splash play. At the same time, there are some risky elements to his game, which often come as a result of trying to do too much, leading to dangerous throws, interceptions or fumbles.
Consequently, how willing teams are to tolerate that risk to reap the rewards of his playmaking skills will be interesting to monitor. Either way, Ward is among the candidates to go first overall and should be one of the first couple of quarterbacks off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Ward
One of the most physically and athletically gifted dual-threat quarterback prospects you’ll see, with plenty of arm strength and elite speed, explosiveness and power as a runner who has some work to do on his game. To reach his sky-high potential he needs to show more consistent weight transfer on his throws, increased touch underneath, slightly faster processing and improved play under pressure.
However, those types of issues could be remedied with experience and coaching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a patient and somewhat risk-tolerant team take a shot on him in the first round.
Projection: Round 1/Round 2
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jalen Milroe
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Quarterbacks
- Jaxson Dart (Mississippi)
- Tyler Shough (Louisville)
- Will Howard (Ohio State)
- Quinn Ewers (Texas)
- Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse)
- Kurtis Rourke (Indiana)
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Max Brosmer (Minnesota)
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
