Where's Will? Kentucky QB Levis Falls Out of First Round
Expert Analysis 4/28/23
Where’s Will?
Still in the green room in Kansas City at the 2023 NFL Draft.
Some prognostications had Kentucky quarterback Will Levis going second overall to the Houston Texans, who took Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud on Thursday night. Instead, Levis slipped right out of the first round.
>> READ: Texans Select Stroud at No. 2
Definitely not what he expected nor planned, or else he wouldn’t have shown up in Kansas City for the festivities that turned into something of a fiasco for Levis. And possibly for bettors who significantly lowered the odds on Levis, raising him to the favorite to go second overall at one point.
"I am shocked because on the big boards and also through evaluation, I thought he would be the third quarterback taken," said former NFL quarterback and The 33rd Team's Matt Cassel. "Him not getting picked, it was a little bit shocking to me just considering his skill set, his size and what he was able to accomplish his junior year.
"We know that he didn't have a great senior year, and there was a lot of talk about his footwork and his accuracy, but I thought he had enough of a skill set to be a first-round draft pick."
Added former Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who also was stunned by Levis' first-round snub: "It's crazy to me. This kid will ... get on a team and have a huge chip on his shoulder and prove everybody wrong."
There's uncertainty surrounding the actual reason for Levis' drop, but according to ESPN's Chris Mortenson, the reason could have stemmed from a left toe injury that caused the quarterback to miss two games last season at Kentucky. Mortenson reported that one team found the toe "problematic" and another believed it might eventually require surgery. Levis, according to the report, said his toe is healed and disagreed with the surgery assessment.
Don’t fret too much for Levis, though. He easily could follow the path of Brett Favre, Drew Brees or Boomer Esiason, just a few of the quarterbacks who were selected in Round 2 and prospered in the league. Hey, the Seattle Seahawks, whose starting quarterback is Geno Smith – a second-rounder in 2013 by the New York Jets – will be on the clock six picks into Friday night and have made it clear they could select their future signal caller.
Hall of Fame executive and The 33rd Team’s Bill Polian recognizes the positives and negatives with Levis, who transferred from Penn State, where he was a backup. Levis led Kentucky to a 17-9 record in his two seasons as a starter – not at all bad in the rugged SEC.
“Levis has two seasons as a starter and recognizes defenses well,” Polian said. “There is a question of why he misses some obvious chunk plays and has some difficulty with accuracy and recognition vs. blitzes from time to time.
“He is big and strong and a good runner, though he was bothered most of his senior year by a foot injury. His accuracy on RPOs, bootlegs and extended plays is above average, and he is a real threat to run for big yardage in all those circumstances. An ideal-sized, strong-armed dual-threat quarterback. The question is consistent accuracy, ball placement and judgment regarding interceptions.”
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the top overall choice by the Carolina Panthers. Stroud was next, and the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4 went for Florida QB Anthony Richardson, a major project with tremendous upside. It’s possible Levis won’t even be the next quarterback chosen, with a third SEC passer, Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, going sooner. Hooker is 25 and coming off a major knee injury.
Barry Wilner was a sportswriter for the Associated Press for 46 years. He has covered virtually every major sporting event, including 14 Olympics, 9 World Cups, 34 Super Bowls, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup Final, and has written 75 books. Follow him on Twitter @Wilner88