:Rick Leonard
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| embed =
| name = Rick Leonard
| image = Rick Leonard (52306772839) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Leonard with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022
| current_team =
| number = 71
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|11|22|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Middletown, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 311
| high_school = Middletown
| college = Florida State
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 127
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Washington Football Team ({{NFL Year|2020|2021}})*
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 2
}}
Rick Leonard (born November 22, 1996) is an American former professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at Florida State, where he started out as a defensive end before moving to offensive tackle. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft and has since been a member of several other teams.
College career
A four-star recruit, Leonard committed to Florida State in 2014 as a defensive end, over offers from Arizona, Clemson, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin, among others.{{cite web|url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2014/rick-leonard-31797 |title=Rick Leonard, 2014 Strongside Defensive End - Rivals.com |publisher=N.rivals.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}} In his freshman season, he played in four games as a reserve. Leonard compiled five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore and played in all 13 games. After two seasons on defense, he transitioned to the offensive line before the 2016 season.{{cite news |last1=Weller |first1=Curt |title=NFL Combine Preview: Florida State OL Rick Leonard |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2018/02/28/nfl-combine-preview-florida-state-ol-rick-leonard-fsu-football-nfl-scouting-draft-offensive-line/377948002/ |access-date=September 8, 2020 |work=Tallahassee Democrat |date=February 28, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Erickson |first1=Joel |title=Saints pick OT Rick Leonard: FSU standout made defense to offense switch in two seasons |url=https://www.nola.com/article_5f0a9514-ee3f-5f3c-ade1-9f5a5caefca1.html |access-date=September 8, 2020 |work=The New Orleans Advocate |date=April 28, 2018}} He started the first three games at right tackle in 2016, before being replaced. Leonard regained his starting role for the final three games of the season. In 2017, Leonard started all 13 games at left tackle for the Seminoles.{{cite news |last1=Weller |first1=Curt |title=Florida State offensive lineman Rick Leonard drafted by the Saints |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2018/04/28/florida-state-offensive-lineman-rick-leonard-drafted-saints-fsu-football-ol-right-tackle/561357002/ |access-date=September 8, 2020 |work=Tallahassee Democrat |date=April 18, 2018}}
Professional career
=New Orleans Saints=
Leonard was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round, 127th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Saints pick Florida State offensive tackle Rick Leonard in 4th round|url=http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2018/04/saints_rick_leonard.html|author=Katzenstein, Josh|website=NOLA.com|date=April 28, 2018}} On May 10, 2018, Leonard signed his rookie contract with the Saints.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints sign six draft picks|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-sign-six-draft-picks-20646723|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|access-date=May 24, 2018|date=May 10, 2018}} He was waived on September 1, 2018, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints make roster reductions to 53|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-make-roster-reductions-to-53|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=September 1, 2018}}{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-4|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=September 2, 2018}} He was released on October 2, 2018.{{cite web|title=Saints cut Brandon Tate, add four players to practice squad|url=https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2018/10/saints_brandon_tate_cut.html|author=Katzenstein, Josh|website=NOLA.com|date=October 2, 2018}}
=Los Angeles Rams=
On October 9, 2018, Leonard was signed to the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Rams sign 2018 4th-round pick Rick Leonard to practice squad|url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/09/nfl-los-angeles-rams-saints-rick-leonard-practice-squad/|work=The Rams Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=October 9, 2018}} He was released on November 6, 2018.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Rams release OT Rick Leonard, DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones from practice squad|url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2018/11/6/18069950/la-rams-transactions-practice-squad-rick-leonard-javon-rolland-jones-trevon-young|website=TurfShowTimes.com|date=November 6, 2018}}
=Arizona Cardinals (first stint)=
On November 14, 2018, Leonard was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.{{cite web|title=Adding A Pair Of Corners: Cardinals Sign David Amerson, Leonard Johnson|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/adding-a-pair-of-corners-cardinals-sign-david-amerson-leonard-johnson|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=November 14, 2018}}
=Houston Texans=
On January 9, 2019, Leonard signed a reserve/future contract with the Houston Texans.{{cite web|title=Texans sign OT Rick Leonard|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-sign-OT-Rick-Leonard-13518076.php|website=Chron.com|date=January 9, 2019}} The Texans waived him on August 31 during final roster cuts.{{cite web |title=Texans trim roster to 53 players |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-trim-roster-to-53-players |website=HoustonTexans.com |access-date=31 August 2019 |date=31 August 2019 |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901032100/https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-trim-roster-to-53-players |url-status=dead }} On September 1, 2019, Leonard was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad.{{cite web|title=Texans sign CB Armstrong, TE Paulsen, add 10 players to practice squad|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-cb-armstrong-te-paulsen-add-10-players-to-practice-squad|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2019|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903055615/https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-cb-armstrong-te-paulsen-add-10-players-to-practice-squad|url-status=dead}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Texans on January 13, 2020.{{cite web|title=Texans sign 10 players to reserve/future contracts|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-10-players-to-reserve-future-contracts|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=January 13, 2020}}
On September 5, 2020, Leonard was waived by the Texans.{{cite web|title=Transactions: Roster Moves (9-5-2020)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/transactions-roster-moves-9-5-2020|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=September 5, 2020}}
=Arizona Cardinals (second stint)=
On September 22, 2020, Leonard was signed to the Cardinals practice squad.{{cite web|title=Arizona Cardinals re-sign Rick Leonard to practice squad|url=https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2020/9/22/21451659/az-arizona-cardinals-re-sign-rick-leonard-to-practice-squad|work=Revenge of the Birds|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 22, 2020}} He was released on October 1, 2020, and later re-signed to the practice squad on October 20.{{cite news |author=Urban, Darren |title=Cardinals Sign Veteran Safety T.J. Ward To Practice Squad |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-veteran-safety-t-j-ward-to-practice-squad |website=AZCardinals.com |date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=October 9, 2020}}{{cite news |author=Urban, Darren |title=Cardinals Activate D.J. Foster To Practice Squad |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-activate-d-j-foster-to-practice-squad-t-j-ward-justin-johnson |website=AZCardinals.com |date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=November 1, 2020}} Leonard was released on November 24, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Odegard |first1=Kyle |title=Kyler Murray Calls Limited Practice 'Precautionary' Move |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/kyler-murray-calls-limited-practice-precautionary-move |website=AZCardinals.com |access-date=November 24, 2020 |date=November 24, 2020}}
= Washington Football Team =
Leonard signed with the Washington Football Team's practice squad on December 1, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Camenker |first1=Jacob |title=Timon Parris, Rick Leonard sign with Washington Football Team's practice squad |url=https://riggosrag.com/2020/12/01/timon-parris-rick-leonard-sign-with-washington-football-teams-practice-squad/ |website=Riggos Rag |date=December 2020 |access-date=1 December 2020}} On January 11, 2021, Leonard signed a reserve/futures contract with Washington.{{cite news |title=Washington Signs 13 Players To Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-signs-players-reserve-future-contracts-2021 |website=WashingtonFootball.com |date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}} He was waived/injured on August 24, 2021, and reverted to injured reserve before being waived with an injury settlement on September 2.{{cite web |last1=Manning |first1=Bryan |title=Washington releases 4 players on Tuesday |url=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/2021/08/24/washington-football-team-releases-4-players-on-tuesday-roster-deadline/ |website=Washington Football Wire |date=August 24, 2021 |publisher=USA Today |access-date=August 24, 2021}}
=Atlanta Falcons (first stint)=
On November 18, 2021, Leonard was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.{{cite web|title=Falcons roster moves: Hayden Hurst to injured reserve, analyzing other gameday moves|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-roster-moves-hayden-hurst-to-injured-reserve|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=November 18, 2021}} He was released on December 7.{{cite web|title=Falcons add CB Cornell Armstrong, announce practice squad moves|url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2021/12/7/22822945/falcons-add-cb-cornell-armstrong-announce-practice-squad-moves|work=The Falcoholic|publisher=SB Nation|date=December 7, 2021}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
On December 28, 2021, Leonard was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Craig |title=Vikings Sign T Rick Leonard to Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/rick-leonard-tackle-practice-squad |website=Vikings.com |access-date=December 28, 2021 |date=December 28, 2021}}
=Atlanta Falcons (second stint)=
On December 31, 2021, Leonard was signed by the Atlanta Falcons off the Vikings practice squad.{{cite web|title=Falcons activate defensive lineman off reserve/COVID-19 list, sign offensive lineman|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-activate-defensive-lineman-off-reserve-covid-19-list-sign-offensive-line|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=December 31, 2021}} His first career game was against the Buffalo Bills on January 2, 2022. He was waived on August 26.{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Joshua R.|title='Definitely awesome': Crazy week culminates in Middletown grad Leonard's first game-day NFL action|url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/definitely-awesome-crazy-week-culminates-in-middletown-grad-leonards-first-game-day-nfl-action/article_6d39a914-3658-5d67-9805-015033fafa1d.html|access-date=January 10, 2022|website=Frederick News-Post|date=January 5, 2022}}{{cite web | last=McElhaney | first=Tori | title=Falcons bring back undrafted tight end, release offensive lineman | website=Atlanta Falcons | date=2022-08-26 | url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/sign-undrafted-tight-end-tucker-fisk-release-offensive-lineman-rick-leonard | access-date=2024-10-25}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://seminoles.com/sports/football/roster/rick-leonard/ Florida State Seminoles bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701031009/http://seminoles.com/sports/football/roster/rick-leonard/ |date=July 1, 2018 }}
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Saints2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Rick}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Florida State Seminoles football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:People from Middletown, Maryland
Category:Players of American football from Maryland