Vikings Summer Scouting: Leonard Moore

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore is one of the top players in the nation with his dominance in man coverage, outstanding athleticism, sound technique, and comfort in zone. Because of this, he could resurface next offseason and is someone that Minnesota Vikings fans must know and watch during the season.

First off, it’s important to highlight the goal of summer scouting. This isn’t a finalized report on Leonard Moore; countless things will change during the upcoming season. But that doesn’t make it a worthless practice. It’s a fantastic resource for fans to familiarize themselves with top prospects and to identify players to watch throughout the season.

With that in mind, Leonard Moore is a premier defender in the nation and is primed for another stellar season with the Fighting Irish.

Moore, the six-foot-two, 197-pound true junior, has two years of starting experience at Notre Dame. He was a unanimous All-American after his sophomore campaign and has tallied seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups in his career. Now, he’s set to anchor a top defense in the nation and establish himself as a top-10 pick next April.

Moore thrives in press man coverage. He pairs elite athleticism with pristine technique, making him unshakable. He can stay stride-for-stride with receivers, using his combination of blazing vertical speed and rapid deceleration, which makes it nearly impossible to create any separation.

Additionally, his press technique is flawless, as his punch timing, footwork, and physicality make it a hassle for opposing receivers to break free. After that, his high IQ is evident as he uses the boundary as an extra defender and suffocates his matchup with his aforementioned abilities and the sideline. If a quarterback does target him, which they often don’t, his superb receiver-esque ball skills are on full display, often snatching the interception or forcing a pass breakup.

Despite being known as a man-coverage cornerback, Moore is equally comfortable in zone. He is patient and uses his first-rate instincts to trigger downhill and disrupt the pass. He rarely lapses in coverage and can eliminate an entire section of the field.

The biggest question mark surrounding Moore is his tackling ability. He’s by no means bad in this area, but he struggles bringing down his matchup in open space. In 2025, he tallied a 17.9% missed tackle rate, which isn’t ideal. Improving at this is key to his evaluation next April.

Moore’s skill set should intrigue the Vikings as their cornerback room is questionable. Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rogers are the top two options, and both are starting-caliber players; however, they don’t strike fear into opposing offenses. Additionally, they lack reliable depth behind them. As a result, it would be wise to address the position during the 2027 NFL Draft.

Obviously, it’s way too early to say anything definitive, but the Vikings must watch Leonard Moore throughout the season. His man dominance, fantastic athleticism/technique, and comfort in zone make him arguably the top defender in the nation and a likely first-round pick next April.