Will Levis projected as No. 1 overall pick in another mock draft from CBS Sports
Will Levis is in the mix to become the top quarterback selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. One analyst is also currently projecting the Kentucky QB to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick this year.
Chris Trapasso with CBS Sports unveiled his latest mock draft on Wednesday, and he included a trade for the top pick in the draft. Trapasso is projecting the Carolina Panthers to strike a deal with the Chicago Bears to move up into the top slot. CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson also has Levis at No. 1 overall but has the Indianapolis Colts making the trade for the top pick.
Trapasso also believes Carolina will fall in love with Levis due to Levis’ athleticism and arm strength as the No. 1 overall pick. Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young come off the board at No. 2 and No. 4 overall, respectively.
Levis headlines a total of 10 SEC prospects projected to come off the board in the first round:
- No. 1 — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky — Carolina Panthers (trade with Chicago)
- No. 3 — Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia — Arizona Cardinals
- No. 4 — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama — Indianapolis Colts
- No. 5 — Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama — Seattle Seahawks
- No. 15 — Brian Branch, CB, Alabama — Green Bay Packers
- No. 16 — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida — Washington Commanders
- No. 17 — Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina — Pittsburgh Steelers
- No. 19 — Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- No. 22 — O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida — LA Chargers
- No. 27 — Drew Sanders, Edge, Arkansas — Dallas Cowboys
Will Levis is the most overrated QB in history!
NOOOOOOOO…Zach Wilson, remember Kyle Boller, Jake Locker, Brady Quinn, Mark Sanchez, Blaine Gabbert, Mitchell Trubisky…off the top of my head. Levis can play…I’d think of him as more of a 3rd/4th round guy that might develop into a quality starter but could at least be a decent backup.
truevol
You’re barely scratching the surface.
Tim Couch, David Carr, Heath Shuler, Andre Ware, JaMarcus Russell etc would like a word with you.
A bad O-line would make Tom Brady look bad, and Cleveland got Couch killed repeatedly.
JaMarcus Russell, hands down, is the best analog to Will Levis. Maybe Tim Couch, but he was tasked with rebooting the Browns. Who knows how well he may have played elsewhere. At least Schuler won a lot of games in college. What has Levis ever won?
“Will Levis is the most overrated QB in history!”
The history of your mind that is. There are MANY MANY overrated QBs in NFL draft history.
That honor goes to Ryan Leaf and truth be told, it’s a title he may never lose.
You being a “know it all” is the most overrated thing in history. Levis, right team, next Josh Allen.
You have a chance to draft Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, or Bryce Young and your like, “Durdee durr durrr duh… We select Will Levis. Cause Durr durr ya know… Intangibles like jeans and bananas.”
Why are you leaving out CJ Stroud?
The irony here is that Levis has leapt up draft boards off the strength of his Georgia game film, lol
Kentucky’s OL was horrible. Levis was sacked 40+ times last year. Not saying he will make it in the NFL but it is hard to ignore his toughness.
Bryce Young was sacked 39 times in 2021 and was arguably one play – a dropped TD in the end zone by Cam Latu – from winning a national title. And he would have been sacked even more times if it weren’t for his awareness in the pocket, mobility and quick release.
A guy in consideration for being the #1 overall pick should be able to elevate a mediocre college cast. As it was, Levis led Kentucky to a 3 way tie for 4th in the SEC East. And this was one of the weakest SEC East fields in memory: Tennessee and South Carolina were both rebuilding with 2nd year coaches, Florida had a disastrous campaign with a 1st year coach, Missouri did just well enough to forestall the inevitable firing of their head coach by another year. The SEC East was so bad that a Vandy team that got killed by Wake Forest and barely got by the likes of Elon and Northern Illinois was able to snag 2 games and came close against Kentucky from getting a third to make themselves bowl eligible. One of the teams that Vandy upset? Why Will Levis and Kentucky. Levis was decisively outplayed by Vandy’s Mike Wright AND Levis wasted a 162 yard rushing day by Chris Rodriguez (why they didn’t give him and the backup McClain more chances WHEN THEY WERE BOTH GETTING 9 YARDS PER CARRY needs to be explained … but instead they allowed Levis to handle the ball 30 times and only complete 11 passes, throw a pick and have 6 plays go for negative gain).
Sorry, but why people see Levis as a franchise QB needs to be explained. Now I have been wrong before. Looks like I was EVENTUALLY wrong about Daniel Jones. But these franchises do need to play the percentages. Remember: Chicago chose Mitch Trubisky over Pat Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, potentially costing themselves a Super Bowl. (The Bears had receivers, an OL and a great defense back then.) Cleveland chose to grab a DE in the first round in order to take a QB in the second, only to wind up having to waste a #1 overall draft pick on Baker Mayfield and to trade still more draft picks to pick up one of the QBs that they passed up. I don’t know why Carolina or anyone else would want to emulate those teams.
Tua getting crushed this season in the league ain’t gonna help your boy Bryce. If Tua can’t get through unscathed, BY ain’t got a chance with his physic.
But he can flat out play though.
“Tua getting crushed ”
Not sure what that has to do with Bryce Young. Can you explain that one?
If you’re talking dual threats then I’ll raise you one Patrick Mahomes.
There were concerns about his size and holding up coming out of college.
He looks like bodybuilder compared to BY.
Overrated…
Lost to Vanderbilt. Was clearly outplayed by the Vanderbilt QB in epic fashion. The Vandy QB not only had more passing yards than Levis in that game, but he also had more rushing yards than Levis had passing! Maybe these scouts should rate the Vandy QB #1 overall instead.
I don’t understand all of the hate. I mean there hasn’t been some campaign by Kentucky to get him drafted. I mean it’s not just one guy saying this- there have been numerous people projecting this. I get he didn’t have a great season this year but they must see something. Athletic ability, football IQ, I don’t know. But he’s a good teammate and has shown he’ll leave it on the field. And all of the prognosticators could be wrong. Aaron Rogers sat at the draft through multiple rounds being passed up. That could be Will Levis. But at the end of the day, he was complimentary of all teams Kentucky faces albeit Louisville. All in all, he’s a pretty good dude who happens to have some arm talent and his head is screwed on the right way. I wish him success and would think he’ll be a good ambassador for Kentucky and the SEC.
I agree the hate is over the top. That said these same people thought Zach Wilson was going to be amazing. They have a habit of focusing on everything except what happened on the field. Also Rogers was drafted 24th.
I agree with you both. It remains to be seen whether he is deserving of an early first round pick. Wouldn’t surprise me if he has a very successful NFL career.
Yeah, I just don’t get all the hate this kid gets.
Can he bust? Sure. But he looks to be tough as nails and he played hurt the entire season. Right system, like 95% of the qbs, and he will excel.
Exactly, sicem. Also, any QB will do much better when there is pass protection. I’m hoping a team with an OL will trade up to get him.
“Aaron Rogers sat at the draft through multiple rounds being passed up.”
Aaron Rodgers went in the first round. The eff are you talking “multiple rounds?”
“I don’t understand all of the hate. ”
Will Levis isn’t Aaron Rodgers. Levis is an average QB with a QBR rating of 60.
Do the math, genius.
I stand corrected- Rogers just fell further than was expected. To be fair, as long as the draft takes, it felt like multiple rounds. I didn’t compare Levis to Rogers in QB ability or QBR, so I don’t have to do the math.
“Aaron Rogers sat at the draft through multiple rounds being passed up. That could be Will Levis. ”
You literally comparing them.
I offered a scenario (of which I admitted was flawed). I did not and am not comparing their QB performance or ability. Look, Levis may or may not be the first overall pick. He may fall out of the first round completely. As a fan of the program, I’d love for him to go early. Lord knows Kentucky hasn’t been able to recruit a decent HS QB since Andre Woodson. Having Levis go high certainly can’t hurt.
“I offered a scenario ”
Moving the goal posts I see.
“And all of the prognosticators could be wrong. Aaron Rogers sat at the draft through multiple rounds being passed up. That could be Will Levis”
scenario (noun): a description of possible actions or events in the future
And one further clarification- what I meant is that Levis could be sitting there long after he expected to hear his name called. Not that he could emulate Rogers’ success in the NFL.
“I don’t understand all of the hate.”
Hate doesn’t mean what you think it means.
He should not be the overall pick period nor the first qb picked. He has potential to be a decent qb in NFL if he is on the right team that will give him time to throw. Not sure why all the hate for this QB. Ky did him no favors with the absolutely horrendous offensive line. Maybe the worst I’ve seen in the SEC if not the nation in a long time. He was injured most of the season as well and he truly couldn’t recover behind a non-existent o-line. If KY doesn’t improve on that area it will be another long season for BBN. Like another post suggested he will be a good ambassador for the SEC and KY. Like Levis. I root for the SEC when they play teams outside of the conference and bowl games. SEC is the best conference and it maybe the best in basketball with the likes of Bama surging and to be honest they are the best team in the country and TN is a good team as well. Some other teams like KY have a lot of work to do but the good thing is they have some big ranked matchups coming up shortly to possibly add to the resume. Beat Kansas one be a signature Win they need to get next wknd at Rupp.
If 7 wins is a long season, this UK fan will take it.
Football or basketball? LOLOL
It is a weak QB class, but no way should he be a first rounder. Somebody will grab him though. Too many teams with bad QBs or no quality backups.
Bryce Young and CJ Stroud are OUTSTANDING QB’s. Are you drunk?
Young, yes. Stroud, maybe. After them? Overall, it’s a weak class. The fact that Levis is at the top of someone’s board should tell you a lot.
Ah, moving the goal posts I see. Stroud was a Heisman contender. You’re really gonna say he’s not outstanding? Dude manhandled UGA.
“The fact that Levis is at the top of someone’s board should tell you a lot.”
It’s called clickbait. Most of these pundits are morons, and they’re often wrong.
Heck, some of these goofballs had Malik Willis going in the first round in the draft last year.
I said it’s a weak class, and I stand by that. What that means to you is your problem. Stroud was an outstanding college QB. But like so many OSU QBs over the past decade, you don’t know if it’s the system or player. Too many busts.
“I said it’s a weak class, and I stand by that. What that means to you is your problem. Stroud was an outstanding college QB. But like so many OSU QBs over the past decade, you don’t know if it’s the system or player. Too many busts.”
LOL you think the school has something to do with not translating to the pro level? LOLOLOL
You suck at football.
“I said it’s a weak class, and I stand by that.’
What NFL coaching experience do you have?
Probably as much as you, Ron, which makes his opinion just as valuable. I’ll let you try to figure out what that value is.
“Probably as much as you, Ron, which makes his opinion just as valuable. I’ll let you try to figure out what that value is.”
Weird, I never claimed a single thing about the incoming QB class.
“Will Levis is in the mix to become the top quarterback selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.”
Based off what? There is nothing in the article that makes the case for this story.
Who would draft Levis, Young or Stroud when you have AR 15 just sitting there?
JK
I wouldn’t laugh too hard. How many QBs have gone in later rounds and done well in the NFL?
Lots.
Heck, look at San Fran. Their 3rd string QB is awesome.
Well those 3 guys were decent, in the case of Levis and dang good in the case of the other two. AR 15 was bipolar at best, had some dang good games and some clunkers too. In some cases from one week to the next, in others from one possession to the next. I’m surprised he is being penciled in as a first rounder
I think AR will do fine in the league. Just needs more consistency in his topside. They can teach him that.
Richardson in the first round? At best, he is a project. Late second at best.
I thought Justin Herbert was a smart dude with awesome physical tools, but he just wasn’t that great of a QB. He seemed to make dumb mistakes and I didn’t think he would pan out. Levis is a smart dude with awesome physical tools, but he makes dumb mistakes and lots of people don’t think he will pan out. Will be interesting to see how he ends up doing in the NFL. I’ll be rooting for him, no doubt.
Who is the starting QB for the San Diego Chargers?
That would have been Philip Rivers.
I love Will but I don’t understand this. Supposedly, the Ravens made a trade with Chicago so they could get him.
Why would the Ravens take him over someone like Young?
Because Young would be the smallest NFL QB since Doug Flutie? Actually I think he’s smaller than Flutie. He’s shorter than Stetson that’s for sure. And Stetson is too small to be a NFL QB so they say.
With that said I think both of them are big time gamers and could make it at the pro level.
Ravens won’t trade up. They’ll get more capital in a sign and trade for Lamar and rework that scheme, which will take at least a year+. Or just keep Lamar.
If anything, Levis will slide down to the mid first round and be able to sit behind a veteran QB for a year or two like Rodgers did at Green Bay.
Rodgers was a guaranteed first round pick sitting behind a future HOFer. Rodgers had better numbers and a stellar accurate cannon of an arm.
And Josh Allen had terrible stats at Wyoming.
Detroit and Seattle hope you’re right with their 2nd pick.
He seems as tough as woodpecker lips, but I guess there’s a reason I don’t make my living as a “sports expert”, because I don’t understand why so many pundits are projecting him first round, much less first overall.
I’m just here for the dumb Will Levis takes.
I have said before that I don’t really know anything, but Levis as #1 has to be a joke. NFL teams are ran as “for profit” businesses. No offense intended, but Levis is in no way the best player in this draft. Who in their right mind would put their money on that?
A team desperate for a good QB. And there are lot’s of those in the NFL. With that said I wouldn’t take him in the top 10.
Tebow is a perfect example of a team desperate for a QB drafting a player that was obviously a major reach.
It has nothing to do with him being best overall. It’s just when he’ll be available for teams that want him. He is a Josh Allen prototype, and that is where the game is now. You won’t find those kinds of guys late anymore because that is what every team wants. He can run, has a huge frame, can make check down windows out of nothing (plenty of tape on that this year, which he will have to do on bad NFL teams drafting early), has a cannon of an arm, and can drop downfield dimes. NFL scouts saw that last year when scouting Wan’dale Robinson. This year he played through a bad shoulder and Lisfranc. And when you take 2 steps back and a safety is already in the backfield, there isn’t much you can do.
Ryan Leaf part 2