The Baltimore Ravens draft Devin Leary with the No. 218 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With the No. 218 pick in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected Devin Leary, quarterback, Kentucky.
Height: 6’1
Weight: 215 lbs.
School: Kentucky
2023 stats: 13 games | 56.3% completion | 2,746 yards | 25 TD | 12 INT | 134.3 QB Rating
Kyle Phoenix’s analysis: The Ravens have a need at backup quarterback and late in the sixth round is a reasonable spot to take a flyer.
Interestingly, Leary isn’t a similar fit to what the Ravens have been bringing in for the backup spot. Throughout the course of the Lamar Jackson era, the Ravens have brought in mobile quarterbacks to fit their scheme like Trace McSorley, Josh Johnson and Tyler Huntley. Leary isn’t that, as he finished last season with -60 rushing yards.
It’s tough to project how much Leary can contend for the backup role. His accuracy in 10-plus yards throws outside was just above 33% and in his final season he finished with 25 touchdowns to 19 turnovers (12 INT, 7 Fumbles). However, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Leary wasn’t given much help from his receiving unit.
There’s a lot of development needed if Leary wants to make it at the next level.
Scouting Reports
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein
Inconsistent pocket passer with slightly below-average size coming off a two-year run that seemed to kill the legitimate buzz created in his sophomore season. Leary’s tape shows flashes of accuracy, touch and football intelligence, but it’s not sustained often enough. He has an NFL arm with good life on his drive throws and might have potential in a play-action based passing scheme if a coach can iron out some of the field-reading and decision-making issues. Leary’s receivers did him few favors, and there are enough splashy throws to make him a dark-horse prospect worthy of a late Day 3 selection.
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) draft guide:
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Kentucky, Leary transferred to Lexington for his final season, specifically to play in offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s pro-style spread scheme. He arrived at Kentucky with expectations that he could replicate his 2021 production (after missing most of ‘22), but he struggled to find consistency against an SEC schedule (completed more than 65 percent of his passes in just one of 13 starts in 2023). Leary can make all t he throws with ease and work from different platforms to create explosives (one of only four Power 5 passers with at least eight completions of 50-plus yards in 2023). However, not everything needs to be a fastball, and the more velocity he adds, the more he appears to sacrifice ball placement. Overall, Leary has NFL-level arm talent and the tools required to fight for a reserve role, but the consistency of his timing and accuracy must improve to convince a pro coaching staff he is worth a spot.