Tennessee Titans: Did they make the right decision by taking Will Levis?

The Tennessee Titans made a bold move in the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Will  Levis from the University of Kentucky with the 33rd overall pick. Was he the right pick?

Kentucky’s Will Levis is a big-bodied quarterback with a cannon for an arm and impressive athleticism who had the NFL Draft media thinking he was worthy of a round-one pick.

Levis’s arm strength is insane, and he can make all of the NFL-caliber throws with minimal effort. He throws with a compact motion and a snappy release. The combination of his mobility and size can put man-to-man coverages in conflict, and he can scramble for big yards once he breaks contain. He expands the playbook with QB keepers, power, counter, and zone-read concepts, which will force defenses to play “11 on 11.”

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However, Levis sometimes trusts his arm too much and will test coverage windows with multiple defenders, resulting in turnovers or near-turnover throws. He also lacks consistency in moving defenders with his eyes by looking them off, and his accuracy and ball placement are not high in the strength column. Levis’s lower-body mechanics are routinely inconsistent, and he needs to settle his feet to take full advantage of quick-hitting concepts on a consistent basis. He struggles with the right amount of air under his deep passes, tends to lock onto his initial passing option, and must cut down on turnovers and protect the football better to ever reach his potential ceiling.

Interestingly, the Titans also drafted quarterback Malik Willis from Liberty in the 2022 NFL draft. Willis shares many similarities with Levis, as he is also a project quarterback with a big arm and athletic ability. It remains to be seen whether either of these players will be able to carry the franchise forward.

Ryan Tannehill is currently leading the Titans, but it’s only a matter of time before Levis gets his chance to prove himself on the field. The question remains, can he beat out Willis, who already has a year of experience in the offense? Only time will tell. The Titans have a tough decision ahead of them, but they seem to have faith in both of these promising young quarterbacks.

While the decision to draft Levis at number 33 overall may have raised some eyebrows, he is a prototype prospect with a lot of potential and could turn out to be a solid investment for the Titans. It will be interesting to see how he develops and how he fits into the team’s plans moving forward.