Will Levis is a Bust According to Former NFL Scout

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As Vegas is taking bets on Kentucky’s quarterback (QB) Will Levis being the No. 1 pick overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, game film shows he will be a bust.

Yes, I see what everybody sees in Levis.

He makes just enough good throws on game film to wet your appetite.

It’s the incessant inconsistencies that are the problem.

Trust me, I’ve now evaluated every single snap he took in 2022.

The bottom line is his game does not translate to what we’ve seen succeed in the NFL.

Wants to make sure of what he’s looking at

This will prove to be his undoing.

He reverts to this glaring tendency to become tentative and wants to take an extra moment or two while staring at his receivers before throwing...just to make sure of where he is throwing.

On top of that, he pats the ball pre-delivery.

Yikes!

Telegraphing throws like this is a big NFL no-no. It’s the thing SportsCenter highlights are made of.

This is a league of 2.5-3.0 second release times and QBs throwing the ball before receivers make their break.

That’s not Levis.

Now he’s going to the NFL, where the game is much faster, defenses are much more complex and with elite pass rushers around him.

Good luck.

Sitting duck in the pocket

Will Levis didn’t see pressure coming straight at him. pic.twitter.com/pu7V5XcWW0

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 26, 2023

If that’s not enough, while Levis is zoned into his receiver downfield, he has shown again and again he has little – – to no feel for pass rushers in the pocket.

Ouch.

On top of it, he has little – – to no escapability.

Ouch.

On top of it, he has little – – to no running ability.

Ouch.

Defenses got their hands on the football too often

Will Levis pic.twitter.com/mUhte34zES

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 23, 2023

Another problem?

In four games I’ve added to his evaluation against Vanderbilt, Missouri, Youngstown State, and Northern Illinois, opposing defenses touched the football 10 times (tipped passes, passes defended downfield, and interceptions).

How will this look when he’s going up against the Eagles, Chiefs, 49ers, and Bengals‘ defenses?

Inconsistent downfield ball placement

Strike four.

Levis has additionally proven on game film he is inconsistent with his ball placement at all three route levels (short, medium, and especially deep).

Levis’s deep game really leaves a lot to be desired.

This is bananas

Nothing to see here.

Just Will Levis eating a rotten banana, peel and all. pic.twitter.com/0ZzQQ55GKc

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) April 8, 2023

We haven’t even gotten into Levis eating bananas (including the peel) or any of the other red flags that surround him.

There’s no need to. Enough evidence exists on game film to prove Levis doesn’t stand a chance in the NFL.

I’m shocked that “draft pundits” and teams think of Levis as a first-round prospect.

More than anything else, I’m very disappointed. I understand the click game, and the drive for season ticket sales, but center it around legitimate blue-chip prospects.

It’s just not fair to fans to take a raw prospect with limited upside and to build him up into something he’s not – – and never will be.

#7 Will Levis 6-foot-2, 232 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Seventh-Round (I would not select him)

Bust Probability: High

Projected by 95.1% (up from 94.7 on March 19) to be a first-round pick as of April 26, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Previous articles:

Will Levis is Overrated

Expect Will Levis to Look Overwhelmed in the NFL

10 Games Prove Will Levis is a Bust

Previous 10 games evaluated: (2021) Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri (2022) Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia, Miami-Ohio, and Louisville

Additional 2022 game film reviewed for this evaluation: Vanderbilt, Missouri, Youngstown State, and Northern Illinois

2021 stats: 216/325, 2,593 yards (66.5%), 23 TD, 12 INT, 16 sacks, 92 rushes, 382 yards.

2022 stats: 185/283, 2,406 yards (65.4%), 19 TD, 10 INT, 37 sacks, 72 rushes, -107 yards.

Note: (2022): 2nd most sacked SEC, 9th most sacked NCAA

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough pro-style strong-armed inconsistent pocket passer with little mobility. Takes command of the huddle. Good initial ball handling. Poor pocket awareness. Repeatedly hammered from open side and pressure up the middle (and blind side). Poor escape. Below average mechanics and footwork. Rarely goes through progressions. Tendency to lock into receivers. Loves to throw intermediate slants and outs, but inconsistent placement. Lacks confidence and doesn’t trust his receivers, which becomes more evident the closer the score or his team is trailing. Below average deep passes. Regressed under former 49ers’ Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s QB Coach (Kentucky Offensive Coordinator) Rich Scangarello in 2022.

Final words

If a team selects Levis in the first round, it will be a catastrophic organizational decision.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.