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KSR Today: The wait for Will Levis continues...

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim04/28/23
Will Levis, Kentucky Wildcats quarterback
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis walks toward the stage at the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27, 2023. (Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports)

Well, that sucked. No other way to spin it. Night one of the 2023 NFL Draft sucked for both Will Levis and the Kentucky football program as a whole, as the former Wildcat and potential top-five pick saw himself fall out of the first round completely.

Levis was the talk of the night, a polarizing prospect going in that saw all of his flaws nitpicked on the big stage, camera on his face as each pick dragged on. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young went first to the Carolina Panthers — no surprise. Then it was Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud going second to the Texans, followed by Houston trading back up to No. 3 and selecting Alabama edge Will Anderson Jr. That was a franchise that had interest in Levis, and there was talk someone else could trade up to get him at three if the Texans passed. Nope and nope.

Then there was the big shake-up at No. 4, with the Indianapolis Colts — widely seen to be favoring Levis and the likely landing spot — drafting Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Three QBs in the first four picks, none being the former Kentucky standout. And that was the start of the slide.

No Seahawks at five, Raiders at seven, Falcons at eight or Titans at 11 — another likely landing spot coming and going. No Lions at 12, Commanders at 16, Patriots at 17, Buccaneers at 19, Seahawks again at 20 or Vikings at 23. Every team that even considered a long-term change at quarterback passed on Levis in the first round, no trade-ups at the end to steal him away on night one.

Just an awkward, uncomfortable evening for the former Wildcat and his family on football’s biggest and brightest stage. 92% chance to be selected in the top 10, only to not be selected at all.

Mark Stoops and Liam Coen had a post-draft Zoom interview scheduled with the Kentucky media on Friday, ready to celebrate their former quarterback’s selection and what it means for the football program. That has since been canceled. Instead, another day of national talking heads breaking down Levis’ slide and why nobody wanted him in the first round, analyzing the negatives of his film in Lexington ad nauseam.

And then there’s the new random injury update that popped up to close out the evening, with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reporting that Levis’ lingering toe issue was “problematic” during the draft process. The former Wildcat says he’s fine, but there’s some chatter surgery could be necessary down the road.

Levis talked about this exact scenario unfolding at his Pro Day in Lexington, something that just couldn’t happen if he were to attend the NFL Draft in person. He didn’t want the camera in his face all night if he slipped, rather just stay home and enjoy the event with his friends and family on his couch.

“If I know I’ll be a pretty high pick, I’ll definitely go. I’m looking forward to going,” he said. “I don’t want to go if I could be a second-round pick, you know? You don’t want to have the camera on you all day.”

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

KSR’s Rapid Reaction from Kansas City

Nick Roush, Adam Luckett and Steven Peake were all at the draft waiting for Levis to hear his name called, walk across the stage and shake Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand like 31 other players did. And like the former Wildcat, the trio of KSR representatives are leaving Kansas City this morning disappointed.

What happened on draft night? How did we get to this point, despite all of the buzz damn-near guaranteeing Levis would be a top-five pick, top-10 at the latest?

KSR’s Rapid Reaction broke it all down in real-time, providing ten minutes of analysis shortly after the final draft pick was announced.

What’s next for Will Levis?

So… what now? The wait was long and sucked last night, but Levis shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear his name called in the second round.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, teams are already calling the Steelers at No. 32 — the first pick of the second round — in hopes of snagging the former Wildcat. “Multiple teams” expressed interest at the bottom of the first, but ultimately decided to wait to make a push until night two.

If not a trade for No. 32, ESPN believes Levis goes No. 36 overall to the Los Angeles Rams — a schematic fit for the former Wildcat. The Raiders (38) and Titans (41) are also potential landing spots should he still be available, with both previously considering him at the beginning of the first round.

The Athletic lists him as the No. 1 available player after day one — not surprising considering he was No. 4 overall on most mocks going into the draft.

Time for Chris Rodriguez?

It’s not just about Levis on Friday night. It’s also the start of Chris Rodriguez’s draft range, with the former Kentucky standout seen as a potential third- or fourth-round pick — second and third rounds are this evening.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger called him a top-four running back entering the draft, behind only Bijan Robinson of Texas, Zach Charbonnet of UCLA and Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama. Robinson and Gibbs both went inside the top 12, leaving the door open for back-hungry teams to potentially take both Charbonnet and Rodriguez earlier than anticipated.

It would line up with what Vince Marrow is hearing regarding C-Rod’s draft grade.

“I think he will go anywhere from the third to fourth rounds,” Marrow said last week on WLAP’s Sunday Morning Sports Talk.  “Think he is really in that three range. … I just don’t think Chris will go later than the fourth (round). Actually, I will be shocked if he does not go early third.”

He took top-30 visits with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. Could both former Wildcats come off the board this evening?

The program could use a good Friday night.

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2025-09-10