Well, the 2025 beginning was not that great for Riley Leonard. No matter how hard he tried to keep Notre Dame’s boat afloat in the National Championship game, they drowned. But even after that, his fan count did not reduce. Carrying the love of his fans, the QB now focuses on the next chapter. And that’s when came forward his latest move. Looks like, Leonard now plans to bring some changes in his physique. Why wouldn’t he? This is going to have a direct and positive impact on his draft stocks. After all, this clears his path to land with the $5.4 billion NFL giant, who is likely to have a special position reserved for him.

Leonard holds a special place in the Fighting Irish fanbase. During the finale, the QB spearheaded an 18-play opening drive that culminated with his touchdown run. This gave Notre Dame an early lead against Ohio State. The second half of the game was not bad either. Leonard finished with 255 yards on 22-of-31 passing and added two touchdown passes. So, he kept his flag fluttering for the signal to reach the NFL suitors in his final feat in college football. But somehow, the QB feels that carrying a strong resume to the NFL won’t be enough. That’s when he thought of making a bold move, that is to put on some extra weight.

On February 20, NFL Rookie Watch came with an IG post. The caption is enough to lure the suitors. It started with, “Riley Leonard’s arm looks NASTY ahead of the NFL Combine.” This man never takes his training lightly. As per the reports, he is currently training with QB Country, the same training program that shaped Bo Nix and Arch Manning. And with Leonard’s much-needed spotlight, the suitors can already see shades of Josh Allen in his game, while another scout “believes Leonard’s ‘ceiling’ looks something like Ryan Tannehill.” All these go with Leonard’s athletic skills and talents, but what about him working on his stature?

Leonard knows the physics of weight, power, and speed, and his latest plans affirm so. The caption of the NFL Rookie Watch read, “Leonard is reportedly planning on bulking up to around 230 pounds (216 currently) by the time of training camp.” Now gaming up some extra pounds will be a blessing for the QB. After all, it would increase his ability to withstand hits in the pocket and improve durability against tackles. Leonard will have to take care of all this, now that he might have an important position to fill.  

What makes Riley Leonard the perfect piece in the $5.4B franchise’s puzzle?  

Leonard has already witnessed a lot of transformation when it comes to his draft stocks. Back when the QB was in Duke Blue Devils, he was briefly mentioned as a potential first-round pick. Cut to the present, the Fighting Irish QB is widely projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Leonard had the golden ticket to boost his draft stocks – the Senior Bowl. During the special event, the QB went 6-for-7 passing for 54 yards. Plus, he carries with himself a particular strength and what’s that?

His legs! The quarterback has got some strong legs, posting better rushing numbers than some running backs. Last season, Leonard notched 167 carries for 866 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. And BOOM! He has already fallen into the NFL radar. As per College Football Network’s Will Helms’ seven-round mock draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are projected to land Leonard. He might be the seventh-round pick as an “ideal” backup for Baker Mayfield. But what made the analyst think so?

Helms wrote, “Again, toughness.” Though there are some doubts about Riley Leonard transitioning into the NFL QB position, his other talent will be enough to keep his ship sailing in the rough sea. The analyst stated, “Riley Leonard’s arm is below average for an NFL quarterback, but his football I.Q. and leadership should make him an ideal backup, especially to a similarly-built quarterback like Baker Mayfield.” The Notre Dame QB will be filling Kyle Trask’s position whose contract expires in 2025. Bigger, stronger, better – will Riley Leonard’s new physique make waves at Tampa Bay?