Devin

Leary

Leary was a sixth-round selection by the Ravens, who have chosen to keep Lamar Jackson and Josh Johnson as their two quarterbacks. Rookie UDFA Emory Jones was the other quarterback waived by the team. Also waived/released were OT Corey Bullock, RB Chris Collier, CB Bump Cooper Jr., WR Malik Cunningham, G Darrian Dalcourt, OLB Joe Evans, TE Qadir Ismail, G Tashawn Manning, OT Julian Pearl, DE C.J. Ravenell, ILB Yvandy Rigby, ILB Josh Ross, WR Dayton Wade, CB Damarion Williams, CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB John Kelly, WR Keith Kirkwood, WR Anthony Miller, DB Daryl Worley, NT Deadrin Senat, DT Josh Tupou. Ravens also placed LB Deion Jennings, CB Christian Matthew, CB Trayvon Mullen, WR Isaiah Washington, and RB Owen Wright on injured reserve, as well as CB Arthur Maulet, who is designated to return.

After starting for the better part of four years at NC State, Leary (6’1/215) transferred to Kentucky for his final season. Life wasn’t easy for Leary in the SEC, as his 56.1 percent completion percent, 5.4 percent turnover worthy play rates, and 12 interceptions were his worst since 2021. Playing with an underwhelming wide receiver corps only amplified Leary’s struggles in 2023, but the numbers are hard to ignore. Leary flashed in 2021 when he threw for 3,435-35-5, and has an adjusted completion percent of 70.4 for his career. The Ravens will give him a chance to win a backup role with a strong showing in the preseason, with a chance to carry him on the practice squad if they don’t feel he’s ready for the active roster.

Leary (6'1"/212) is coming off a very strong year where he threw for 3,433 yards on 65.7% completion to go with a 35:5 TD:INT ratio. Big things are expected of Leary and the Wolfpack, who came in second to Clemson in the preseason ACC Champion poll. Leary loses elite tackle Ikem Ekwonu and a few of his offensive weapons, but should still have enough to keep the Wolfpack in contention, especially if he continues to develop. He’s already being mocked in the first round for the 2023 NFL Draft, and if he lives up to the hype he’ll certainly be in the mix as the top QB off the board.

Leary (6'1/212) is an interesting prospect. He possibly could have been one of the first quarterbacks off the board but chose to go back to school. That decision could pay off for him as he goes in the first round of Trapasso’s mock draft. Trapasso believes that “Leary has the game-manager tools it feels like Mike McDaniel will gravitate toward next offseason.” Time will tell if he will be a first-round pick next year, but he’s in the conversation at the very least.

Leary (6'1"/212) is the fifth quarterback off the board in Renner’s mock. While that feels like a lot, there are potentially 10 different guys who could make it into the first round. Leary has a lot of tools to work, including really good accuracy and gusto in the pocket, willing to stand in and take hits to deliver the ball down the field. With another season for the Wolfpack, Leary can take a big leap and become a first round selection.

Leary (6'1/212) could have declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and quite possibly have been one of the first five quarterbacks off the board. But he chose to stay with the Wolfpack for another year to make some personal improvements and is highly optimistic about what the team can do this season. “I want to be able to take that next step in my game,” he said in an interview with Crissy Froyd of The Draft Network. “Continue to identify defenses, continue to alert different pressures. Being able to make checks against the right looks at the right time. Also just continuing to manage the game and exceed in this offense and really lead this team to what I know we can achieve -- getting to the ACC Championship, getting into the College Football Playoff, competing for a national championship. Those are all goals we set for ourselves, but it’s up to us to get after it and get it done.” Those are some bold goals, but considering Leary himself has already been pinned as an early Heisman Trophy candidate, they are far from unattainable.

Leary (6'1/212) played well all night, exuding precise accuracy and flashing his powerful arm. In a back and forth contest, Leary found himself down nine with 2:02 remaining. It took him two plays to find Emeka Emezie get behind the defense for a 64-yard touchdown and just 26 seconds later, Leary found him again for a 24-yard score to take the lead for good. While Sam Howell is considered a top NFL prospect, Leary outplayed him with his arm and was the best player in the game tonight. NC State finds themselves still alive for an ACC Championship Game berth, but they need a loss on Saturday from Wake Forest.

Leary’s (6'1/212) first touchdown of the day came at the end of the first quarter to cap off a 28-point start for NC State. He found wide receiver Christopher Toudle on a 14-yard touchdown to give the Wolfpack a 28-7 lead heading into the second quarter, and later connected with wide receiver Thayer Thomas on an eight-yard touchdown pass to put NC State up 38-10. It was a great day for Leary, who has now thrown for 300+ yards in five straight games, and has 16 touchdown passes to just three interceptions in that span. Now at 9-3 on the season, the Wolfpack will play host to North Carolina on Friday night before bowl season begins.

Leary (6'1/212) had some big moments in the high scoring affair, first hitting Emeka Emezie on the left sideline for a toe-tapping 28-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. He then followed that up with a 21-yard strike to a crossing Devin Carter in the back of the end zone to bring NC State within one point of the Demon Deacons. However he also committed two costly turnovers, with the second being especially harmful since NC State was in Wake territory and Leary throwing an uncatchable pass to the inside of a receiver who was running a sideline route. Despite his mistakes, Leary roared to life in the fourth quarter, throwing a pair of late touchdown passes to Carter and Emeka Emezie, but it just wasn’t enough to topple the high-powered Wake Forest scoring machine. He will lead the 7-3 Wolfpack against Syracuse next Saturday.

Leary (6'1"/212) had another good game, his second straight with 300+ yards and four scores. His interception was a last second heave into the end zone at the end of the first half, so it really shouldn’t count against him. Besides that, the big plays were really they key for the Wolf Pack. Leary got going early, launching a deep pass down the middle to a wide open C.J. Riley, who walked into the end zone after throwing off a would-be tackler. He also had a screen to Trent Pennix who took it 45 yards to the house, running through a number of weak arm tackles, and finally another screen to RB Rickey Person Jr, who followed good blocking down the sideline for a 43-yard score. Leary allowed his playmakers to do their job, and took advantage of an underwhelming Seminole defense. Leary wasn’t spectacular in this one like his stat line suggests (his eight-yard TD pass to Toudle was awkwardly placed), but he didn’t need to be. He led NC State to a score in each quarter, and delivered touchdowns to four different receivers. NC State and Leary will need to be on top of their games when they travel to Wake Forest next week in what should be a shootout.