Will Levis couldn’t cease tears when Titans ends his 2023 NFL Draft wait
Possibly someday there will probably be a rustic music track about Will Levis’ tortured wait to be chosen on the 2023 NFL Draft.
After he surprisingly fell out of the primary spherical, Levis didn’t have to wait long Friday night to hear his name called.
He was the second choose of the second spherical by the Titans, who traded up with the Cardinals to get him.
The rocket-armed quarterback, who was projected to go as excessive as No. 4 to the Colts, landed in a promising place.
Ryan Tannehill is on his contract walk-year and Levis can compete with 2021 third-round choose Malik Willis to be Tennessee’s quarterback the longer term.
The Titans traded picks No. 41, No. 72 and a 2024 third-rounder to maneuver as much as No. 33 for Levis and add No. 81 from the Cardinals.
Levis and his girlfriend, Gia Duddy, had been the unlucky stars of the primary spherical as a result of tv cameras saved panning to their stunned and dissatisfied faces.
To no one’s shock, Levis didn’t return to the inexperienced room in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., for his in-person second with commissioner Roger Goodell.
He was at dwelling in Connecticut when the telephone rang Friday.
“I knew I used to be going to cry,” Levis advised native reporters of his response when the Titans lastly known as. “The tears got here instantly. I didn’t actually understand how the dialog was going to go. It’s a type of issues the place you’re feeling like you’re going to deal with your self and be composed, however the waterworks began flowing and feelings acquired overwhelming.”
As soon as the Colts took Anthony Richardson with the fourth-overall choose Thursday, after two high two picks had been fellow quarterbacks Bryce Younger (No. 1 to the Panthers) and C.J. Stroud (No. 2 to the Texans), Levis’ tumble started.
There was a thought that the Titans, who hosted Levis on a facility go to earlier than the draft, would halt the autumn earlier than it reached Aaron Rodgers and Dan Marino ranges, however they as a substitute grabbed offensive deal with Peter Skoronski at No. 11.
“Each go to that I went on, I made certain I put my greatest foot ahead and did one of the best that I may to indicate them who I’m as an individual and a participant,” Levis mentioned. “I really feel like each individual I met with on the [Titans’] workers I linked with on a extremely excessive stage. I advised myself I wouldn’t fall in love with anyone all through the method as a result of I didn’t actually have a say within the matter, but when there was one group I did it was undoubtedly Tennessee.”
Levis’ tape from the 2021 season was arguably one of the best of the quarterbacks accessible on this class, however he struggled after an offensive coordinator change and a toe injury in 2022.
He mentioned the toe has “healed,” however at the very least a few groups weren’t satisfied, in response to ESPN.
There was a thought that the Rams — coached by Sean McVay, a mentor to Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Cohen who was calling performs when Levis was at his greatest — would possibly choose Levis at No. 36.
So, the Titans made a deal.
The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Levis began his profession at Penn State, however couldn’t beat out Sean Clifford (projected to be undrafted this 12 months) to be the starter.
In two years at Kentucky, Levis accomplished 65.7 p.c of his passes for five,232 yards with 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
“No matter the place I acquired picked, it’s not going to change my work ethic,” Levis mentioned. “You may’t let the circumstances dictate your preparation and the extent of depth you convey to every-day observe. Positively a bit of little bit of a chip [on my shoulder].”
From a monetary standpoint, it’s higher for quarterbacks to be early second-round picks than late first-round picks as a result of they’ll attain free company sooner.
Groups reportedly had been calling Thursday about buying and selling as much as picks No. 30 or No. 31 for Levis due to the team-controlled fifth-year possibility.