ESPN insider reveals Colts creating 'buzz leaguewide' about drafting Kentucky QB Will Levis

On3 imageby:Barkley Truax04/02/23

BarkleyTruax

NFL teams are expecting the Indianapolis Colts to draft Will Levis later this month the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to NFL insider Dov Kleiman. There is a “buzz leaguewide,” about the potenital of Levis coming off the board after four selections, according to the report.

Opinions have varied of Levis since mock drafts began slotting Levis as one of the first players coming off the board. He struggled through injuries at Kentucky during the 2022 season, but his intangibles have kept him in favor of NFL scouts throughout his senior season and pre-draft process.

His stats were down across the board between his junior and senior campaigns, but the difference in Levis’ stats come from the talent around him, particularly on his offensive line. Levis was sacked 36 times in 2022, which ranked Kentucky’s OL No. 128 out of 131. He was sacked 11.80% of the times he dropped back in the pocket last season. 

Levis finished last season with 2,406 yards — over 400 less than the year before. His touchdowns were down and his interceptions were up but was sacked 14 more times. In 2021, Levis rushed for 376 yards and 9 touchdowns. This past season, Levis rushed for -107 yards on 35 less attempts and seven less touchdowns because he wasn’t allowed to be comfortable in the pocket.

Mock drafts have Levis going anywhere from No. 3 overall to No. 19, one even has the former Kentucky star going in the second round — the discrepancies vary by person, because the opinions vary by person. There is no consensus opinion on Will Levis, and we won’t get one until he’s on the field and playing in the NFL. After all, the ball doesn’t lie — but right now, on paper, Levis is a physical specimen and has the potential to have one of the strongest arms in the league if his career pans out the way his draft projection suggests.

Whether Levis pans out in the pros or not, it seems the Indianapolis Colts are looking to be the team that is willing to take that chance on Levis.

Regardless, Levis isn’t likely to wait very long for his name to be called when the 2023 NFL Draft gets underay from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.