Best 2023 NFL Draft Landing Spots for Will Levis To Succeed Amid Latest Buzz, Rumors
Perhaps NFL teams think more of Will Levis than the mainstream media and draft analysts who've posted countless mocks over the past few months. He's generated quite a buzz in the days leading up to the 2023 draft.
A month ago, Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd heavily criticized Levis' decision to post pictures of his body transformation and presented the idea that the signal-caller's physique could hinder him at the position. During a segment on 102.5 The Game's Robby & Rexrode, Yahoo Sports NFL insider Charles Robinson revealed concerns from teams about Levis' decision-making in the pocket.
Lately, the media tables have turned in Levis' favor.
On Monday, ESPN's Todd McShay wrote that the link between Levis and the Indianapolis Colts is "very real." He also suggested that the Colts may have to move up from the No. 4 spot to keep the Tennessee Titans away from him.
Could the Colts, Titans or another team take Levis with the No. 2 overall pick?
This week, Levis became the favorite to go No. 2 overall. The Houston Texans have the pick, but the betting odds don't specify the team attached to the selection.
We should note that ESPN's Matt Miller reported that Houston "isn't sold" on the quarterbacks not named Bryce Young in this class. The Texans may trade down and allow another club to make the call for Levis.
On Tuesday, Levis' draft odds took another turn that made a lot of people scratch their heads.
On Reddit, a user posted a thread that claimed Levis told family and friends that the Carolina Panthers will pick him with the No. 1 overall pick. DraftKings Sportsbook shifted the Kentucky product's odds to be the top pick from +4000 to +400.
What a turn of events.
Before we find out where Levis lands on Thursday, let's examine the best team fits for him—five destinations came to mind.
Carolina Panthers
1 of 5
The Carolina Panthers have built a favorable environment for a young signal-caller. The coaching staff includes head coach Frank Reich, senior assistant Jim Caldwell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.
In nine years as a head coach and offensive coordinator, Reich has fielded four top-10 scoring offenses and five passing attacks that ranked within the top 13 in yards. Also, he won about 55 percent of his games with two trips to the playoffs while serving as the lead skipper for the Indianapolis Colts (2018-22).
Caldwell brings a wealth of experience to the Panthers' coaching staff. In addition to winning 55 percent of his games as a head coach, he's commanded the quarterback room, which underscores why he's the ideal assistant to help develop young players at the position.
McCown is a little over three years removed from his playing career. He can offer great insight into today's game from a recently retired player's perspective.
The Panthers made some quarterback-friendly moves in free agency as well. They signed DJ Chark, Adam Thielen, Hayden Hurst and Miles Sanders. They're all probable Week 1 starters.
Levis can use his big arm to stretch the field with Chark, who averaged 16.7 yards per catch with the Detroit Lions last season. Because of Thielen's veteran savvy and high catch rate (68.8 percent), he could become a young quarterback's most reliable target on crucial downs. In a pass-catching tight end role, Hurst has recorded 52-plus receptions in two of the last three campaigns.
As a rookie in 2019, Sanders caught 50 passes for 509 yards and three touchdowns. If the Panthers featured him in a pass-catching role, Levis should be able to find the dual-threat running back in the flat for high-percentage passing plays.
Whomever the Panthers pick is, they'll will land in an ideal spot for rapid development.
Indianapolis Colts
2 of 5
This offseason, the Indianapolis Colts may have hired a quarterback whisperer or a wizard who simply knows how to develop high-potential players at the position. After going through multiple retread signal-callers, the Colts are ready to bring along a young talent with head coach Shane Steichen.
At his previous stops with the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, Steichen served as an offensive coordinator for Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, respectively. With Steichen calling the plays, Herbert broke rookie records, and Hurts made a third-year leap into the MVP discussion last season.
At 6'4", 229 pounds, Levis has a big arm with functional mobility. He can move in the pocket and make plays while on the run. He rushed for 742 yards and 17 touchdowns through four collegiate terms.
Moreover, Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter served as the passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars who finished 10th in passing yards last year. By the way, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence made significant strides this past season, throwing for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions and leading his squad to the division round of the playoffs.
On the field, Levis would have a quality big-bodied target in wideout Michael Pittman Jr. (6'4", 223 lbs), who's increased his reception totals every year in the league with a 68.6 percent career catch rate. With three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, three-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and five-year veteran tackle Braden Smith, he should have time to throw downfield. If not, Levis can hand off to a former rushing champion in Jonathan Taylor.
Seattle Seahawks
3 of 5
Head coach Pete Carroll has a background rooted in the defensive side of the ball, though his staffs know how to develop quarterbacks—even the unheralded or second-chance veterans.
Over the past 11 years, the Seahawks have gone to the playoffs with Russell Wilson, a 2012 third-rounder, and Geno Smith, who served in primarily a backup role between 2015 and 2021. In Seattle, Wilson had nine Pro Bowl campaigns. Smith won 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.
Maybe the Seahawks know what they're doing with the quarterback position. Levis could become the next success story.
Levis wouldn't have to start for the Seahawks right away. He could sit behind Smith and learn how a pro-level quarterback processes pre- and post-snap looks, which became a bit of an issue for him, according to Bleacher Report scout Derrik Klassen.
"Levis' pre-snap processing still needs work, particularly with respect to blitz anticipation and replacement," Klassen wrote. "Levis also needs to iron out consistency as a post-snap processor."
Under Carroll, the Seahawks usually look to establish the run. They've ranked 12th or higher in rushing in four of the previous five seasons. Levis wouldn't have to put the offense on his broad shoulders, though he would have two high-end wide receivers in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, who have a combined six seasons with 1,033-plus receiving yards seasons in 2022.
Keep in mind that the Seahawks haven't ruled out taking a quarterback with the fifth overall pick. Carroll said Smith is fully aware of the team's ongoing evaluation of the position.
Atlanta Falcons
4 of 5
The Atlanta Falcons have high hopes for Desmond Ridder. Head coach Arthur Smith expects the second-year signal-caller "to take the next step."
With that said, the Falcons did host a visit with Levis, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The Falcons may consider Levis if he's available when they go on the clock with the eighth selection. If so, Smith could see a little bit of his former quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, in the Kentucky product. B/R scout Derrik Klassen drew the comparison.
"In all, Levis is a bet on getting something similar to Ryan Tannehill," Klassen wrote. "Like Tannehill, Levis has the arm, toughness, functional athleticism, and experience to come in and play right away."
While Smith served as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, Tannehill won 2019 Comeback Player of the Year and threw for 55 touchdowns and 13 interceptions between 2019 and 2020.
Furthermore, Levis could heavily target the Falcons' twin tower pass-catchers in tight end Kyle Pitts (6'6", 246 lbs) and wideout Drake London (6'4", 213 lbs). Both guys have a wide catch radius with the ability to haul in slightly off-target throws.
Lastly, Smith does a good job of taking pressure off his quarterbacks. As an offensive coordinator or head coach, three of his four units have ranked top three in rushing.
In Atlanta, Levis can carefully pick his spots to attack downfield with a run-heavy offense to support him.
Minnesota Vikings
5 of 5
We have to connect the dots to understand why Will Levis makes sense for the Minnesota Vikings, who would likely have to trade up from the 23rd spot for him.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell comes from Sean McVay's coaching tree, which is essential to note because Levis' former offensive coordinator Liam Coen came from the same group.
Coen served as Kentucky's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when Levis had his best collegiate year (2021) before rejoining McVay's staff in 2022 and then going back to Lexington in January.
O'Connell can pick Coen's brain to get the best out of Levis. On his own path in Minnesota, he fielded an offense that ranked within the top eight in scoring and yards last year.
The Vikings can draft Levis and allow him one year to absorb aspects of the pro game behind Kirk Cousins, whose contract voids at the end of the 2023 campaign.
By the way, Levis would have the benefit of playing with one of the league's best wide receivers in Justin Jefferson, who won 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson and four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook.
Minnesota also has a budding offensive line group that features Pro Bowl right tackle Brian O'Neil and left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who made notable strides last season.
Among Levis' best landing spots, Minnesota has the best supporting cast for a rookie quarterback.
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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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