One of the most notable developments of the first round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night centered on lack of action.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis entered the night regarded as one of the top four players at this position and an expected top-15 selection. Instead, he ended the night still waiting to learn his pro fate, falling out of the round entirely and into Friday’s Day 2 of the draft.
The evening featured a quick run on quarterbacks, with Alabama’s Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, followed by Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud landing at No. 2 with the Houston Texans and Florida’s Anthony Richardson going No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts.
Levis, who had been linked to the Colts at No. 4, did not hear his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
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At 6-4 and 229 pounds. Levis offers prototypical size and the mobility to make plays on the run. His most prominent feature, however, is his considerable arm strength, as he boasted at the NFL scouting combine that he has “a cannon, and I want to show it off.”
“I think I’ve got one of the stronger arms to come out of any draft class in recent memory,” Levis added.
His 2022 season, however, didn’t go as planned. Amid multiple injuries and while operating under a new offensive coordinator, Levis struggled with spottier ball placement. He did not throw for more than 230 yards against any SEC opponent.
Still, Levis held firm that he could take over as starter from the outset.
“I think that I’m immediately able to be plugged into any offense, learn it well, and become a leader very quickly for whatever team I play for,” Levis said. “But obviously, the goal is to progress. I want to get better every year. I’m not expecting myself to be the best quarterback in the league right off the bat.
“That’s just what development is all about. That’s what I’m going to lean on the coaches and the staff and the players around me to help get to that level.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
