Will Levis, who played for Kentucky in college, was widely speculated to be a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, his fortunes turned overnight and his draft stock took a massive hit when he wasn’t picked in the opening round. Will eventually got picked by the Tennessee Titans as the 33rd overall pick on day 2. In addition to this, NFL Rookie Watch recently came out with a report stating that the quarterback lost over $20 million from his rookie contract and is now slated to receive less than $10 million.
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Getting a place in round one for a quarterback of Levis’ caliber happens to be a great deal. Although it comes with a lot of responsibility and immense media attention, it always remains a big factor in the resume. Unfortunately, the Kentucky star failed miserably in this domain, and analysts have hence begun criticizing his pre-draft photo shoots and gun show on social media.
How much did Will Levis lose in this year’s draft?
Ever since the 23-year-old registered for the event (draft), he was expected to go off the board in round one. In fact, three quarterbacks found spots in the top five picks, but Levis failed to land a team. The Alabama superstar Bryce Young was selected by the Panthers as their first overall pick, and CJ Stroud went next with the Houston Texans using their second pick.
While these youngsters were handed off the jerseys, Levis was expecting to get his name announced, but he had to wait the entire night. Not to mention, his family and friends who accompanied him on the big day had to leave disappointed. He didn’t show up on the second day, but the Titans exercised their 33rd pick on him.
Even though he seemed happy, Levis won’t forget the Day 1 of the draft for his entire lifet. Not because he got picked, but because of the ignorance he faced from 32 NFL teams in round one. Per NFL Rookie Watch and Terence Scott of The U.S. Sun, his rookie contract will now be valued below $10 million. The signing bonus will be around $4 million, and other incentives, according to a standard deal.
Readers must understand that the value changes from team to team based on the rounds in which they get picked. If it had been day one, the Colts might have offered him a $34 million deal, something that Anthony Richardson is expected to sign in the coming days. Similarly, if the Titans had used their 11th pick on him, Levis could have earned $20 million in his rookie deal.
When Colin Cowherd ripped Levis for his pre-draft antics
The Kentucky star was quite active on social media before D-Day, showcasing his jacked body and throwing abilities. It garnered national attention and became a hot subject in the sports fraternity. Well, it didn’t turn out in his favor. NFL analyst Colin Cowherd believes that his exhibition was unnecessary.
The greatest quarterbacks in NFL history were never bodybuilders or showcased their pictures to attract an audience. He cited examples of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger to justify this notion. And certainly, he was quite accurate in this regard.
“I don’t like Will Levis. Will Levis likes Will Levis. I figured he didn’t go four because he was just less raw,” Cowherd had said on his talk show. “Nobody wants to see a selfie. Nobody wants to see a gun show. You don’t get it with Mahomes, and he’s the best player in the world.” he had added.
What do you think? Was Levis a worthy first-round pick? Can he still create marvels on the gridiron?
