After tumbling out of the primary spherical of the NFL draft, Will Levis discovered a house with the Tennessee Titans, who traded up Friday night time to pick the previous Kentucky quarterback with the No. 33 general decide.
After not taking a quarterback in Thursday’s first spherical, the Titans made an aggressive transfer for his or her potential quarterback of the long run one night time later by agreeing to a commerce with the Arizona Cardinals, who acquired a second-round decide (No. 41 general) and third-round decide (No. 72) on this 12 months’s draft and a third-rounder in 2024.
“Final night time was powerful,” Levis stated. “I knew that what was meant to be was going to occur. It is a kind of issues the place you are feeling like you are going to deal with your self and be composed, however then the waterworks began flowing and simply feelings received overwhelming.”
The Titans additionally acquired a third-round decide (No. 81) from the Cardinals to land Levis, who was broadly projected to be chosen within the first spherical Thursday however was nonetheless accessible forward of Friday’s second spherical.
Levis, who left Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, to return dwelling Friday, stated he was “ecstatic” to get a name from the Titans, who had additionally hosted him for a pre-draft go to.
“I ended up the place I used to be meant to be, and I am simply trying ahead to competing and getting began,” he stated.
Levis grew to become the fourth quarterback chosen on this 12 months’s draft and joins Houston‘s C.J. Stroud (No. 2 general decide) and Indianapolis‘ Anthony Richardson (No. 4) as rookie signal-callers within the AFC South.
“These are my guys,” Levis stated. “I used to be extraordinarily comfortable to see them go the place they did. So long as they are not enjoying me, I want them the perfect. [It’s] undoubtedly going to be cool to have lots of younger quarterbacks in that division.”
Levis accomplished 65.4% of his passes final season at Kentucky for two,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The 2-time captain completed his profession with a 17-7 document as a starter, tying Terry Wilson for Kentucky’s second-most quarterback wins since 1993.
With veteran Ryan Tannehill anticipated to be the Titans’ starter this season, Levis will get the chance to spend a 12 months in an understudy function. At age 35, Tannehill’s contract has two voidable years at a mixed $9.2 million in cap fees after the 2023 season.
Barring any setbacks, Levis will take over because the starter in 2024 if the Titans void the remaining two years on Tannehill’s deal. Within the meantime, Levis will compete with Tennessee’s 2022 third-round decide, Malik Willis, to be Tannehill’s backup beneath new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.
“I simply wish to study from them,” Levis stated of Tannehill and Willis. “They have already got much more expertise and are going to have the ability to train me lots of issues. I simply wish to be a fantastic teammate to them. … I simply wish to be sure I do no matter I can to assist the workforce win.”
Levis stated his toe feels good after being a “ache within the foot” the second half of final season. He sat out Kentucky’s closing sport, a 21-0 loss to Iowa within the Music Metropolis Bowl.
“My ft is one thing that I really feel like is among the strengths of my sport,” Levis stated. “To not have that, it sucks. However I imply that is the character of this sport.”
Levis stated he is had the toe examined by a few of the high foot docs within the nation and added that his toe has been 100% since early February.
The Titans began their draft Thursday night time by taking Northwestern offensive sort out Peter Skoronski at No. 11 general as they continued rebuilding their offensive line.
That is the second straight draft the Titans have traded up and drafted a quarterback. Former common supervisor Jon Robinson, who was fired in December, traded up final 12 months to take Willis out of Liberty at No. 86 general.
Willis began three of the eight video games he performed, and he threw for 276 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns earlier than being benched for Joshua Dobbs, who was signed Dec. 21 to assist get Tennessee into the playoffs.
Tannehill handed for two,536 yards with 13 touchdowns and 6 interceptions final season.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
