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Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard Predicted to Join $260 Million Superstar NFL Quarterback

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Dec 20, 2024 2:07 PM ET

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard's NFL draft stock has had some wild swings during his college football career. During his previous stint with the Duke Blue Devils, Leonard was once viewed as a potential first-round pick.

ESPN's Matt Miller now projects Leonard to be a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. During the regular season, Leonard threw for 2,092 yards, 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions while completing 66.2% of his passes in 2024.

Leonard is one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation adding 721 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this season. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound quarterback offers appealing NFL size.

Pro Football Network's Dalton Miller projected the Baltimore Ravens to select Leonard with the final pick in the fourth round in his Nov. 28 NFL mock draft. Given the Ravens already have one of the top quarterbacks in the league, Leonard would not be competing to be a starter.

“No one improved their draft stock more so, in my opinion, than Riley Leonard”@FBallGamePlan explains why he loves what he’s seeing from the Notre Dame QB: pic.twitter.com/v9UftAshV6
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) December 16, 2024

The Ravens could be a good landing spot for Leonard given the quarterback would have the opportunity to learn from Lamar Jackson. The playmaker's five-year, $260 million contract runs through the 2027 season.

Leonard will begin the pre-draft process once Notre Dame's season ends. The Irish quarterback has accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl. It will be worth watching to see if Leonard can once again rise up draft boards with an impressive showing in the College Football Playoff.

OFFICIAL! QB Riley Leonard @rileyleonard13_ from @NDFootball is heading to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl!!! #GoIrish #BestOfTheBest #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️@JimNagy_SB @QBCountry @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/z1HicjIPGt
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 29, 2024