Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, tight end and linebacker are perhaps the biggest needs for the Indianapolis Colts. However, don’t be surprised if they take a quarterback at some point in the draft. That quarterback could be Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard.
The Colts haven’t given up on Anthony Richardson yet. With that said, it’s highly unlikely that the team will take a quarterback early in the draft. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who are both expected to go in the first round, won’t head to Indianapolis unless something crazy happens. Selecting Riley Leonard, a projected sixth-round pick, is a lot more realistic.
Spending time at Notre Dame, Leonard knows a thing or two about playing in Indiana. Maybe he’ll take his talents from South Bend to Indianapolis this spring.
Notre Dame Quarterback Riley Leonard Would Fit in with the Indianapolis Colts
His Career Thus Far
Riley Leonard starred at Fairhope High School in Fairhope, Alabama. During his senior year, he threw for 1,900 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 500 yards. Leonard received college offers from schools like Nebraska, Syracuse, and Tulane. However, he committed to Duke University.
During Leonard’s three years at Duke, he passed for 4,450 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. He later transferred to Notre Dame, where he spent his final year of college football. Last season, Leonard threw for 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 66.7 percent of his passes. He also rushed for a ridiculous 906 yards and 17 scores. Leonard led Notre Dame to 14 wins this past year. He also took them to the National Championship Game, where they lost to Ohio State.
Why the Colts Should Draft Him
Everyone knew the Colts would acquire a quarterback this offseason who’d compete with Anthony Richardson. Daniel Jones turned out to be the man for the job. Whoever loses the “AR5 vs. “Danny Dimes” battle will serve as the team’s primary backup. Sam Ehlinger was Indy’s No. 3 quarterback last season. However, he recently signed with the Denver Broncos. If the Colts draft Riley Leonard, he can compete with Jason Bean for that No. 3 spot
The 6-foot-4 and 216-pound Leonard possesses exceptional athleticism and could emerge as one of the NFL’s best running quarterbacks. In addition, he has good arm talent, which allows him to throw deep, catchable passes.
Leonard is known as a dual-threat prospect due to his ability to throw and run the football effectively. He would fit in nicely in the Colts quarterback room. Richardson, Jones, and Bean are dual-threat weapons as well. Richardson has rushed for 10 touchdowns since joining the league and Jones has 15 career rushing touchdowns. Jones rushed for a career-high seven touchdowns and 708 yards in 2022 as a member of the New York Giants. While Bean hasn’t appeared in a regular-season NFL game yet, he rushed for 1,342 yards in college. That means the team wouldn’t have to change the playbook much if they switched to Leonard.
Riley Leonard is considered a project quarterback right now. Yet, he could still develop into something special in Indy down the road.
Main Image: Vasha Hunt – USA Today Sports
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