2023 mock NFL Draft 3.0: Final 11th-hour edition (with trades)
Will Levis. 17. player. 833. . Quarterback. Wildcats
On the clock: Pick No. 17: Minnesota Vikings (via Pittsburgh) – Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
Mock Draft 1.0: Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn State
Mock Draft 2.0: Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois
Will Levis is the quarterback most likely to fall down the draft, and here the Minnesota Vikings trade up and stop the slide. Kirk Cousins is unlikely to be retained past this season and the Vikings need a quarterback of the future, Levis can sit in 2023 and get ready to take the reins in 2024.
Levis is an extremely raw prospect but has upside similar to Justin Herbert. While there are some questions over his suitability as a pro, he also has his defenders as someone with exceptional upside that a team will no doubt take a gamble on.
Will Levis was throwing absolute DARTS during his pro day 🎯
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 25, 2023
📹: @NFL pic.twitter.com/nPkQWq6CtV
Levis threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season for the Kentucky Wildcats. Physically he has one of the strongest arms in the class, with the velocity to get the ball anywhere he wants.
The downsides are really evident, too, however. He had trouble diagnosing defenses while at Kentucky, which is a big problem as defenses only get more complicated and the game gets quicker in the NFL. He has been guilty of taking bad sacks and throwing unnecessary interceptions, which is something that needs to be cleaned up.
Levis is not ready to play in 2023, so he has to land in a good situation. The Vikings already have a good system in place complete with good weapons, so he can learn in that system for a year before the Vikings start to reap the benefits for the 2024 season.