The one time it is always bad for a quarterback to slide is in the NFL draft.
Such was the case for Kentucky’s Will Levis on Day 1 of the 2023 NFL draft at Union Station in Kansas City. The 23-year-old was expected to go within the top-10 as there were quarterback-needy teams in the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Las Vegas Raiders.
As Levis began to drop, perhaps a team that needs to think about a future quarterback could come into play, such as the Minnesota Vikings at No. 23 overall. However, they took USC receiver Jordan Addison.
Levis will still be available when the Pittsburgh Steelers kick off Day 2 at No. 32 overall, but they already have a young quarterback in Kenny Pickett.
With Levis falling out of the first round, Twitter was full of reactions. Here are among the best.
I feel bad for Will Levis because his entire "slide" is a result of the NFL Draft Machine. Nobody who watched him regularly in college thought he would go near the top of the draft.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) April 28, 2023
Will Levis for the past 3 hours pic.twitter.com/JFQWb3l3ph
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) April 28, 2023
ESPN panning the camera on Will Levis before ending the Draft show pic.twitter.com/CAKSOXX3tG
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) April 28, 2023
Will Levis went from maybe Josh Allen to Drew Lock 2.0
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) April 28, 2023
Will Levis waiting on that call 📞#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/gAq2ktBK4h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2023
Live look at Will Levis trying to find a team to draft him #NFLdraft
pic.twitter.com/xjCMX3DZMJ— Wells in the 360 (@Wells_InThe_360) April 28, 2023
“How is will Levis still on the board”
The reason Levis is still on the board: pic.twitter.com/bo7T1NI7p9
— CHANNEL (@CHANNEL_TN_) April 28, 2023
Four players are left in the green room after Round 1: Kentucky QB Will Levis, Georgia Tech edge Keion White, Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. and Alabama S Brian Branch.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2023
WILL LEVIS IS NOT AN INDIANAPOLIS COLT pic.twitter.com/VEdNDlJDX3
— No. 1 Will Levis Hater (@JomiAdeniran) April 28, 2023
Definitely two different types of emotions going on right now in this picture
Hendon Hooker and Josh Heupel, and Will Levis is hoping to come off the board soon. pic.twitter.com/M3CMCdND7L
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 28, 2023
Mel Kiper the only person on this earth wondering why Will Levis hasn’t been drafted. What do that man be watching
— Rellonardo 🎨 (@JustChill_Rell) April 28, 2023
I’m so proud of the entire NFL for not making the huge mistake of drafting Will Levis in the first round. 👏👏👏#NFLDraft
— Aaron Jarriel (@airN116) April 28, 2023
Whichever team gets Will Levis is going to get a QB with a huge Chip on his shoulder.
— ⚡Austin NFL ⚡ (@Austin__NFL) April 28, 2023
All that Will Levis propaganda failed!
— The Prince of Goldenstone (@ThisIsNotKam) April 28, 2023
Would Will Levis have been drafted already if his name was Will Wranglers?
— Tim (@knothead65) April 28, 2023
Oh no! Will Levis and Hendon Hooker are going to land in situations in which they aren’t expected to do much early AND so in turn they can properly develop. 😟
— Simpleton Sports (@SimpletonSports) April 28, 2023
Am I the only one not surprised Will Levis wasn’t a first round pick??
— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) April 28, 2023
Will Levis is gonna take vengeance on the XFL.
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) April 28, 2023
Will Levis it’s time to get that CDL
— WestsideGunnSZN 🥶 (@DaSeniorCitizen) April 28, 2023
Will Levis has plenty of appealing tools; arm talent, mobility and prototypical size.
Having said that, based on the footage, I've not seen elite intangibles that separate good QB prospects from great.
Medical concern or not, Day 2 has always felt a more fair range for Levis.
— Dion Caputi (@nfldraftupdate) April 28, 2023
