2023 NFL Draft Player Preview: Devin Leary





  • Devin Leary, 6-1/212

  • Quarterback

  • N.C. State


  • Devin Leary 2023 Preview
    By Charlie Campbell

    Career Recap: After redshirting in 2018, Leary started five games in 2019, completing 48.1 percent of his passes for 1,219 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. In 2020, Leary’s playing time was limited due to COVD-19 contact-tracing, but he completed 60 percent of his passes for 890 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Leary then exploded in 2021, putting together a huge season that saw him break Philip Rivers’ single-season touchdown record. On the year, Leary completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He notched two rushing scores as well.



    2022 Season Outlook: Leary faces an ACC schedule that should not be difficult to navigate. The best games to watch him in will be on Oct. 1 versus Clemson and on Nov. 25 against North Carolina.

    Skill-Set Summary: While Leary will not blow away evaluators from a size/athleticism/arm strength perspective, he is a natural football player with passing instincts and feel. Leary is a confident signal-caller who can pick apart defenses and will efficiently spread the ball to his playmakers.

    As a passer, Leary will get in stretches where he makes some excellent throws. There are plays where he shows very good precision, placing his ball well, putting it in position for his receiver to make catches while avoiding putting the pass in danger of being intercepted. However, Leary can be streaky with his accuracy, and he can have issues throwing to the sideline in the short part of the field.



    In the pocket, Leary shows the ability to work off his primary read, and he does not panic when his first read is covered. His timing, anticipation, and field vision are on point and make him an effective pocket passer. Leary has a quality arm that is able to loft the ball deep downfield. He will drop in nice touch passes and also can drive some fastballs in the short to intermediate part of the field. While Leary has a quality arm, he does not have an elite cannon like Josh Allen or Matthew Stafford.

    Leary will scramble sometimes and shows toughness as a runner coming downhill, but he will not present a running threat against NFL defenses. As a pro, he will be a pocket passer only.

    Heading into the 2022 season, Leary looks more like a potential backup quarterback at the NFL level.



    2023 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2022 season, Leary looks like a potential second-day or mid-round pick for the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the league always has a huge demand for quarterbacks, so if Leary dominates, he could rise.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2023 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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