The Indianapolis Colts surprised many in the sixth round, drafting Riley Leonard with the 189th pick. With their QB position still up in the air, Leonard’s arrival offers a breath of fresh air. How? His dual-threat skills—strong arm and impressive agility—inject excitement into the Colts’ offense. He could be the key to turning the team around, just like he did for Notre Dame, taking them to the finals last season. Now, how can Riley’s lady love, Molly Walding, not chime in and hype her man on his big moment? She sure fanned the flames of his rise to the top.
The Colts’ significant interest in Leonard is clear, as several of their coaches, including HC Shane Steichen, were present at Notre Dame’s pro day. The link between Leonard and the Colts’ coaching staff points to a strong alignment of his abilities with the team’s future strategy. With the Colts’ acquisition of Leonard, his girlfriend Molly was quick to celebrate with a loving Instagram post featuring them both. The caption reads, “Newest @colts fan!!!!!!!!”
But she isn’t the only one excited for Riley Leonard. Guess who’s eager to see him shine as a pro?
Of course, it’s Marcus Freeman. His reaction says it all: “Excited to watch you compete!” And sure, we are too! Leonard’s $4.4 million, four-year contract as the 189th overall pick reflects his potential.
So, Riley Leonard’s making big strides, but Molly’s also carving out her own path. The university’s recruiting team even put together a story about Molly’s graduation, noting, “Molly is graduating with a degree in Public Relations and plans to work in retail, and social media marketing in Fairhope!” Looking at her LinkedIn, Molly’s clearly got the professional chops, with experience in sales and social media management, including recruiting at Auburn University. Seems like both Riley and Molly are making waves in their careers.
She even dropped her graduation pics with the caption, “It’s easy to say why I chose Auburn, but it’s even easier to say why I love it.” And Riley, the former Notre Dame QB, even reposted it with a simple “Yes ma’am.” Looks like these two supportive souls, who’ve been together for over seven years, are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
Riley’s Notre Dame journey, which ended with a National Championship appearance, really shows he’s ready for the NFL. Picking him seems like a perfect match for the Colts, considering his college success and how well he’d fit into their system. And nobody’s more hyped than Riley himself to join the team. As he put it, “This has been really fortunate for me just to have an inner circle, specifically in relation to Coach Steichen, throughout this whole process. There’s no place that I would rather be than back in Indiana.”
Now, what’s even more intriguing are the similarities he shares with Anthony Richardson. Wild, right? Leonard earned an impressive 83.5 overall grade, a standout 91.6 deep pass grade, and a solid 78.2% adjusted completion rate. This means he’s got the potential to be a strong runner with a powerful arm, and his performance last season echoed Richardson’s excellence. So, if that doesn’t scream immediate fit for the Colts, what does?
What makes Riley Leonard a perfect fit for the Colts?
Well, the Indianapolis Colts strategically drafted Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard’s impressive single season with the Fighting Irish culminated in a National Championship appearance against Ohio State. His statistics are compelling: 2,861 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. He also contributed 906 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat ability perfectly suited to the Colts’ offense. This pick secures a player with high potential to thrive in Shane Steichen’s system.
And let’s be real, Riley Leonard’s dual-threat capability is a major advantage, especially in Steichen’s offensive scheme. His 82.8 rushing grade—third-best among college quarterbacks in 2024—highlights his mobility. Pro Football Focus also praised Leonard’s ability to avoid sacks and turnovers, ranking him 16th-best in turnover-worthy plays and 22nd-best in pressure-to-sack ratio among FBS quarterbacks. These numbers show his knack for keeping the offense on track. With the Colts looking to strengthen their quarterback position, Leonard could be a key player, particularly given the upcoming training camp competition.
But what makes him a perfect guy for the Colts is his ability to avoid sacks and limit turnovers. “He excels at keeping his offense in manageable situations, due in part to his ability to avoid forcing the ball into tight windows and escape pressure with his legs,” PFF analyst Nick Akridge said. “He boasted the 16th-best turnover-worthy play rate and the 22nd-best pressure-to-sack ratio in the FBS in 2024.”
With Sam Ehlinger’s departure, the Colts needed a dependable backup quarterback. Leonard fits the bill, offering both immediate support and long-term developmental potential. His mobility and ability to evade pressure are valuable assets, crucial in his competition for the starting role. His physical running style and strong arm are ideal for the Colts’ system, which prioritizes athletic quarterbacks. General manager Chris Ballard’s emphasis on an open competition gives Leonard a chance to prove himself against quarterbacks like Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
This move provides the Colts with a promising quarterback to develop while continuing to build a competitive team around their young, athletic players.
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