One of the biggest stories of the 2023 NFL Draft so far was the surprising fall of Kentucky’s quarterback Will Levis. Despite being predicted to go in the Top 5 in most mock drafts, Levis ended up being passed by every team that picked in the first round. But he didn’t have to wait for too long to get his name called out on the second night of the draft.
Levis ended up being selected at No. 33 by the Tennessee Titans, who acquired the pick from the Arizona Cardinals. As part of the deal, the Titans sent a second-rounder (No. 41 overall) and a third-rounder (No. 72) this year, and a third-round pick next year to Arizona.
Will Levis started 25 games in two seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, completing 65.7% of his passes and throwing for 5,232 yards and 43 touchdowns. Ahead of the draft, the scouts were impressed by the strength of his arms, eye-catching throws, and ability to move the chains with his legs.
The knock on Levis was that he was inconsistent and had a tendency to make bad decisions. This was backed by the fact that he threw 23 picks in the past two years. Some reports also mentioned that teams were not impressed with his interviews.
Levis will now have a chance to prove everyone wrong in Tennessee, probably sooner than later. The Titans’ starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is coming off a disappointing campaign in 2022, while there are concerns about backup Malik Willis’ readiness to play in the NFL.
“Last night was tough,” Levis said. “I knew that what was meant to be was going to happen. It’s one of those things where you feel like you’re going to handle yourself and be composed, but then the waterworks started flowing, and just emotions got overwhelming.”
