Riley Leonard has done a lot over the last few months to show people that the Notre Dame football quarterback was someone who had something to offer the NFL. Now at least one analyst believes the former Duke transfer has helped his NFL Draft stock so much that he might even be a second round pick.
That would certainly be an interesting rise through the ranks for a player that, when his season ended, looked like someone who might be an interested UDFA. Though even the analyst admits that where he has Leonard is likely higher than where anyone else lists the dual-threat gunslinger.
Nate Tice, of Yahoo Sports says that he’s got the Notre Dame football quarterback at No. 49 in on his NFL Draft big board. That would have Riley Leonard going somewhere in the middle of the second round.
Notre Dame football quarterback sees interesting rise in NFL Mock Draft
“Leonard has good size and is an excellent athlete who is a weapon on designed runs and in the open field,” Tice wrote in part when talking about why he has the Irish quarterback ranked so high. “He has a good feel in the pocket (but can bail outside a bit too quickly at times) with an ability to mitigate sacks and pressure, something he has now shown behind two shaky offensive lines at Duke and then behind a — forgive the pun — green Notre Dame unit.”
Tice does know that if there are concerns about Riley Leonard, it’s whether he’s a real passer, especially at the next level. While he’s quite accurate on short throws, it’s the deeper passes that might have some NFL execs looking elsewhere.
Having said that, Tice clearly believes that there’s plenty of real NFL potential there.
“But it’s not the worst bet to make on such a competitive player with this much athleticism — who shows more feel for the position than he gets credit for — could turn into a starter down the road.”
The Notre Dame football quarterback being a starter in the NFL would be quite the rise indeed.