Shaquille Leonard

Shaquille Leonard

29-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Shaquille Leonard in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
$Signed a one-year contract with the Eagles in December of 2023.
Wants new team, open to retirement
LBFree Agent
June 23, 2024
Leonard said he wishes to sign with a new team and play during the 2024 NFL season, but that he'd be at peace with calling it a career if no opportunity presents itself, Kyle Smeldy of the Indianapolis Star reports.
ANALYSIS
Leonard, a three-time All-Pro, posted 88 tackles in 14 regular-season games split between the Colts and Eagles in 2023, his comeback after a 2022 campaign plagued by injuries. Though he's remained a free agent throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamps, Leonard said he's staying in shape and waiting for an opportunity to sign, while leaving open the possibility of retirement. "If it happens, it happens," Leonard said. "If it don't, it don't. I think throughout my career I've had a great career, even if I do step away from it."
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NFL Stats
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2024 Shaquille Leonard Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Shaquille Leonard's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 2"
 
Weight
230 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.70 sec
 
Bench Press
17 reps
 
Hand Length
10.25 in
 
Arm Length
34.38 in
 
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Leonard has had a pair of back surgeries since June of 2022, and his potential to produce in 2023 depends entirely on his health. He tried valiantly to fight through pain - he discussed having no feeling down the left side of his body - for three games last season but ultimately shut down things down in an effort to return to 100 percent. Heading into training camp, his availability remains ambiguous. Leonard was unable to practice at all during offseason activities, and owner Jim Irsay recently said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show only that Leonard was making progress. If, in what would be a surprising outcome, he proves to be fully healthy, Leonard has an excellent track record of having a nose for the ballcarrier, tallying at least 120 tackles in his first four seasons in the league.
Keep an eye on Leonard’s recovery from a June back procedure. The Colts said they expect him to be ready for Week 1, but back injuries are always concerning and nothing should be taken as a given. When at 100 percent, though, Leonard is often peerless. His tackle rates range from a floor of about 120 per season to a ceiling around 170, but it’s the big plays that can set him apart from other LBs.
You probably can't call a second-ranked player a "buy low" opportunity, but it was only a year ago that Leonard appeared unquestioned as the top overall IDP. He's still the same player who posted 163 tackles and seven sacks in 2018, so he clearly is capable of reclaiming the crown. Durability has been the main issue — Leonard was limited to 13 games in 2019 and a groin injury held him to 14 games last year — so better luck is all it would take for him to rank first. Even with his stock lower than a year ago, Leonard is a game-changer in IDP leagues.
Leonard's second season didn't feature the same tackle volume as his memorable 2018, but he was still outrageously productive overall and by now has to be considered the top linebacker IDP, as well as the top IDP regardless of position. Even as a concussion cost him three games, Leonard raced to 121 tackles while making an unmatched impact as a blitzer (five sacks) and in coverage (five interceptions). It might seem greedy to expect more of Leonard, but he's yet to play 16 games, and if he does then his numbers could somehow go off to an even higher level. If you project his per-snap production to this point over a 1,000-snap projection you get roughly 159 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions. Leonard is the most productive linebacker of distant memory. He seems to inhabit a tier above even the likes of Luke Kuechly at his peak.
Leonard appeared undersized (6-2, 237) and under-athletic (4.7 40) when the Colts "reached" for him at the 36th pick in 2018, but he couldn't have proved his critics more wrong. He was outrageously productive as a rookie in all facets of play. He graded tops or close to it in all stat categories and did so on a fully sustainable 955 snaps, missing one game due to an ankle injury. Leonard will be hard-pressed to avoid statistical regression entirely, but the kind of production he posted last year simply leaves no room for doubt about his talent.
While most considered him a reach on draft day, Leonard comes to the Colts via the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and this pedigree suggests he'll instantly join the starting lineup in Indianapolis. In fact, the South Carolina State product could become IDP relevant as soon as Week 1 given his nature as an off-ball linebacker -- an alignment that's historically led to higher tackle totals than OLBs on the strong side -- but fantasy owners might be best served taking a wait-and-see approach while the Indianapolis defense settles into its 4-3 scheme after playing in a 3-4 under Chuck Pagano the fast few seasons.
More Fantasy News
Posts 88 tackles in comeback
LBPhiladelphia Eagles
January 20, 2024
Leonard bounced back from an injury-filled 2022 season to record 88 tackles in 14 regular-season games split between the Colts and Eagles.
ANALYSIS
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Notches first sack of season
LBPhiladelphia Eagles
December 27, 2023
Leonard recorded seven tackles (five solo), including one sack, in Monday's 33-25 win against the Giants.
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Chooses Philly as next destination
LBPhiladelphia Eagles
December 4, 2023
Leonard signed a one-year contract with the Eagles on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Set to visit Dallas on Tuesday
LBFree Agent
November 26, 2023
Leonard has a visit scheduled with the Cowboys on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Cut by Indianapolis
LBFree Agent
November 21, 2023
The Colts waived Leonard on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will decide post-Eagles game Sunday
LBFree Agent
December 2, 2023
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Leonard, who was cut by the Colts on Nov. 21, will make his decision between joining the Cowboys or Eagles as early as Sunday afternoon.
ANALYSIS
Although Leonard's playing time had wavered from week to week during the season, the Colts' decision to waive the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker was a shock to many in the NFL. He spent last week visiting both the Cowboys and Eagles, and Russini notes that Leonard is set to inform both teams of his decision Sunday after Philadelphia's game against San Fransisco. Leonard missed most of the 2022 season after undergoing back surgery but was able to bounce back with 65 tackles in nine games this year with Indianapolis before being waived.
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