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Will Levis’ NFL draft wait is finally over.
After the Kentucky quarterback was not chosen in the first round Thursday despite widespread predictions he would land somewhere on Day 1, the Tennessee Titans traded up to select Levis in the second round with the No. 33 overall pick of the draft.
Levis, who had been linked to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4, was on hand Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, as he expected to hear his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but he did not return on Friday.
The 6-4, 229-pound quarterback drew praise at Kentucky for his downfield passing and ability to convert throws when outside of the pocket. But he had a down year in 2022, throwing for just 2,406 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as he struggled with his ball placement.
“I think I’ve got as talented an arm as anybody, and even when I don’t have efficient movements and am off-base a little bit, I can still pull off (the throw) as strong as my arm is,” Levis said after his pro day in March, according to The Athletic. “But being able to move to a position as efficiently as possible to get my feet in the right spots and be consistent and efficient in my delivery has been the biggest part (we’re working on).”
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Levis missed two games last season due to a toe injury, which ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported was considered “problematic ” by one team that considered the quarterback.
The selection gives the Titans an option to weigh as incumbent starter Ryan Tannehill’s future with the team remains unclear.
Tannehill has one year remaining on his contract, with his $36.6 million cap hit for 2023 ranking second among all quarterbacks. Following an ESPN report that Tennessee was open to trading the 11-year veteran, new general manager Ran Carthon said in a pre-draft news conference he had spoken with Tannehill in February and that the quarterback “knows where he stands.”
Carton kept the door open for the team to add to the position in the draft.
“With Ryan and his respective position, the same thing can be said at every position. It’s our job to do our due diligence at every position every year,” Carthon said. “So it’s not an indictment on Ryan or anybody else on this roster. We have to evaluate everyone to know where we can make ourselves better and give ourselves the best option to put the best 53 on the field.”
Tannehill, who turns 35 in July, has been the Titans’ starter since 2019, engineering a career rebirth while leading the team to three playoff appearances and two division titles in that span. In 2022, however, he missed five games and finished the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
The move also creates additional uncertainty for 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis, who did not throw for more than 100 yards in any of his three starts as a rookie.
After being hired in the wake of Tennessee’s 7-10 season – its first losing mark since 2015 – Carthon took swift action to reshape the roster. In February, he released three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Robert Woods, linebacker Zach Cunningham, kicker Randy Bullock, outside linebacker Bud Dupree and center Ben Jones.
But Carthon has pushed back against the notion that the Titans are in rebuilding mode.
“This is a competitive team, and we can win football games,” Carthon said in January. “But at the end of the year, you evaluate your roster and you’re always looking for ways to improve that. That’s what we’re going to do here.”
In Tennessee, Levis will work with a receiving corps that does not feature a player who had more than 33 catches or 450 yards last year, though 2022 first-round wideout Treylon Burks and fourth-round tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo look poised for larger roles. Two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry should provide some support after eclipsing the 1,500-yard rushing mark for the third time in four years.
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