You ever watched a guy go from Netflix-worthy hero in the finale episode to nearly ghosted by the league in all under 2 months? That’s Riley Leonard’s whole vibe right now. Just two months ago, man had South Bend rocking—Riley Leonard gave up hoop dreams, pulled Duke football out of the grave, dipped to Notre Dame, dragged them near to the natty, and now? Now he is sitting in the NFL draft green room, watching his stock rise from ‘he might go undrafted’ to something else entirely. It’s like one minute you’re fighting for a practice squad slot, and the next minute, scouts are backpedaling harder than DBs on 3rd and long. Yeah, something just shifted. After months of folks writing him off like a tax deduction, Riley just caught a major curveball in his draft story. And it ain’t what you think.
Just last month, most official NFL mock drafts had him going undrafted. But forget all that undrafted chatter—the noise got shut down fast. On April 18th, Todd McShay hopped on his namesake podcast and lit a fire under Riley’s stock. “Riley Leonard will be a fourth-round draft pick because of the leadership, the toughness, what he—his commitment will be in the quarterback room. And you know that he can bring that mobility to the table.” McShay said, keeping it all the way 100.
Steve Muench co-signed and doubled down heavy: “I just think about, like, the season—he had to go into Texas A&M, hostile environment. You get that win in the first game of the year. And then to lay the egg against Northern Illinois—the sky is falling, everything is crashing around you. And then you start stringing wins together. Then you get to the playoff and everyone’s like, ‘Ah, who have they beaten? You know, what have they done?’ And he puts them on their back. They make a run. I—I really think the Ohio State game, the national championship game, might have been his best game of the year.” No Lie.
Leonard’s rise from basketball reject to South Bend savior is crazy. After injuries clipped his wings in 2023, he transferred to Notre Dame and went full villain arc in 2024. He racked up 2,861 passing yards, 21 TDs, and a clean 66.7% completion rate. But the twist? Riley Leonard turned into a cheat code on the ground—906 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns. Tied ND’s QB record for rushing scores. Nobody saw that coming. And for all the doubters? His Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist nod was for all the naysayers.
But it wasn’t all smooth rides and ESPN highlights. After catching an L to Northern Illinois in Week 2 off a blocked 62-yard field goal, the Irish had haters coming out of the woodwork. Leonard? Man took that loss personal. He then led the Irish to an 11-1 season, and then stepped up in every big game. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl? 90 passing, 80 rushing—solid, and made a joke out of Kirby Smart’s defense. And that Orange Bowl vs. Penn State, Riley Leonard got lit up in the first half… came back on demon time. Down 7, final drive, nine plays, 80 yards—capped it with a 3-yard rushing TD. Sent them to the natty.
And in that National Championship against Ohio State? Riley went down swinging. 22-of-31, 255 yards, 2 TDs through the air, and another one on the ground. Left every ounce of juice out there. They took the L, but the heart he showed? That’s what legends are made of. Despite taking L, Riley Leonard literally showed up for Senior Bowl. Steve Meunch gave big-time props for that: “And what does he do a week later? I’ve just lost the national championship game. Some guys might want to go to their basement and hang out. He shows up at the Senior Bowl the next week and says, ‘How can I get better and improve my draft stock?’” But somehow, mock drafts still had him sitting real disrespectful—6th, 7th round, or not even picked at all.
Riley Leonard to Colts?
Alright, here’s where it gets real spicy. Word on the street is the Indianapolis Colts might be low-key eyeing Riley Leonard like he’s the perfect sidekick for Anthony Richardson. They are not trying to draft another top-tier QB, nah—this is about depth, development, and guys who can hold it down if things fall apart. Colts need a Sam Ehlinger replacement, and Riley got that same kind of mold: dual-threat, respected in the locker room, and just gritty.
Leonard ain’t no perfect passer, let’s be clear. His arm is solid but not elite, his accuracy is hit or miss, and he’s never been that surgical thrower. But that run game? Deadly. That RPO flow? Smooth. And he sees the field in the middle like he got X-ray vision. Colts like QB who can ball in chaos, and that’s Riley.
Plus, they watched him real close—Shane Steichen chopped it up with him at Notre Dame’s pro day. That ain’t a coincidence. Let’s keep it a buck: Riley probably not going to be an NFL starter right out of the gate. But a long-term QB2 who can win you a game or two and vibe with the squad for four years on a cheap deal? Colts might’ve just found that in Leonard. And in today’s league, with all these wild injuries and QB drama, that role is no joke. It’s valuable. Backup QBs win chips, too.
Now imagine this: It’s Week 12, Richardson takes a hit, Colts down six, two minutes on the clock. Who jogs out there? Riley Leonard—the man who beat Georgia with one leg, who came back from injury and disrespect, who got ice in his veins. That’s the kind of story Colts fans can get behind. So while most folks counted him out, Riley Leonard stayed ready. Now the league’s starting to catch on. There’s no Hollywood ending yet, but this story? Far from over.
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