NFL Analyst believes the Lions should be drafting this quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, we suggest a better one
The 2025 NFL Draft is two weeks away, and the takes are flying in every direction. Most analysts will agree on certain positions for the Lions early in the draft, such as edge rusher and guard. But later in the draft, there are some who think a quarterback is the way to go and others […]
The 2025 NFL Draft is two weeks away, and the takes are flying in every direction. Most analysts will agree on certain positions for the Lions early in the draft, such as edge rusher and guard. But later in the draft, there are some who think a quarterback is the way to go and others who don't.
I happen to be a quarterback guy to a certain degree. I haven't mocked one to the Lions in a while, but I get the idea behind it. So does ESPN's Ben Solak. He's pegging the Lions to take a quarterback, and the guy he likes for Detroit is Indiana's Kurtis Rourke. Here's his reasoning:
"Rourke throws with good rhythm, knows when to take shots, and has enough arm to hit the windows between zone coverage. He has unspectacular physical traits and an injury history, but he could keep a functional NFL offense on schedule as a pocket passer. The West Coast offenses that like timely, one-read-and-out quarterbacks — like the Lions and Cowboys — will like Rourke."
There you go. Rourke is not a bad quarterback. He's a guy who will probably make a solid career out of being a QB2. The problem is the Lions are essentially just drafting Hendon Hooker again here.
Like Hooker, Rourke has the injury history. He tore his ACL in 2022 and then tore it again in 2024. He actually played through the entire season with the latest tear. That's gutsy, but probably isn't great for the knee. Then there's the age. Rourke will be 25 October. There's just no future here.
If the Lions are going to go with a quarterback at a later point in the draft, we have a suggestion and that's Notre Dame's Riley Leonard. With Leonard, you get a 22-year-old quarterback with a lot more upside and a lot more mobility.
Leonard ran for 900 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. In a league where mobility is starting to rule, the Lions get a younger guy who they can coach up over time and has a better shot to replace Goff than Rouke, Hooker, or Allen ever would.
As a passer, Leonard can throw the ball, but like Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, we just didn't see it a whole lot. Marcus Freeman runs a primarily run-first offense at Notre Dame, and there were never really chances to show off what he could do with his arm. It's worth a look for sure.
In terms of where Leonard could get picked, it's just a little higher than Rourke. Leonard is projected to be a late fourth or mid-fifth round pick. Rourke is projected for the sixth round.
We'll see what the Lions do soon, but remember, this is not a needs-based drafting team. If there's a guy they like, they're going to take him regardless of position. A quarterback is very much on the table in 2025.