Kentucky's Will Levis went undrafted in surprise first-round snub
The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is now complete, and unfortunately, Will Levis is still without an employer as the lights go out on the first night in Kansas City. The worst situation that could happen happened as Levis dropped to the second round in a surprise fall down the board during the first 32 selections. Before the draft, ESPN gave the former Kentucky Wildcat a 92 percent chance to be a top-10 pick.
Despite the mock drafts, percentage chances, and Reddit rumors, the league GMs graded Levis differently, specifically places like Indianapolis and Tennessee, both in need of quarterbacks and both going in other directions when on the clock. After Bryce Young and CJ Stroud went first and second, the Colts took Anthony Richardson of Florida at fourth, and then the Titans passed on Levis as the franchise QB at No. 11, going O-line with the first-round pick instead.
Once the Titans passed on him, it was clear Levis was in for a long night and ESPN didn’t do him any favors with the green room shots.
Ian Rapport even called the fall as soon as the Colts chose Richardson at No. 4.
Chris Mortensen pointed to Levis’s injured toe as a roadblock for at least two teams in need of a quarterback:
As a Kentucky fan site, KSR headquarters feels terrible for Will on what was to be a special night with friends and family in Kansas City. Now the after party is postponed, if not canceled.
I guess we’ll do it all again tomorrow with three sets of boots on the ground to cover Will’s big moment on the second night of the draft.
Every 2023 NFL Draft First-Round Selection
1. Carolina Panthers (via trade)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
3. Houston Texans (via trade)
Will Anderson Jr., edge, Alabama
4. Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (via trade)
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
6. Arizona Cardinals (via trade)
Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Tyree Wilson, edge, Texas Tech
8. Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
9. Philadelphia Eagles (via trade)
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
10. Chicago Bears (via trade)
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
11. Tennessee Titans
Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
12. Detroit Lions (via trade)
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
13. Green Bay Packers (via trade)
Lukas Van Ness, edge, Iowa
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (via trade)
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
15. New York Jets (via trade)
Will McDonald IV, edge, Iowa State
16. Washington Commanders
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
17. New England Patriots (via trade)
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
18. Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
20. Seattle Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston, WR, Texas Christian
22. Baltimore Ravens
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
23. Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California
24. New York Giants (via trade)
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
25. Buffalo Bills (via trade)
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
26. Dallas Cowboys
Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade)
Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson
29. New Orleans Saints (via trade)
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
30. Philadelphia Eagles
Nolan Smith, edge, Georgia
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State
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