Titans Trade Up to Select Kentucky QB Will Levis at No. 33

The wait is finally over for Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

After unexpectedly falling out of the first round on Thursday night, Levis was taken with the No. 33 pick by the Titans in the second round on Friday night. Tennessee traded with the Cardinals to acquire the pick, sending Arizona the No. 41 and No. 72 picks in this year’s draft as well as a 2024 third-round pick. 

The Titans received the No. 81 pick in addition to the pick that was used on Levis.

Throughout the pre-draft process, Levis was one of five quarterbacks expected to be selected in the first round, with many projections having him as a top 10 pick. Instead, Levis slid down draft boards and watched Bryce Young go to the Panthers, C.J. Stroud go to the Texans and Anthony Richardson go to the Colts in the first four picks.

The Kentucky product joined fellow SEC quarterback Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee as two of the top five quarterbacks to not be selected on Thursday.

After beginning his career at Penn State as a backup to Sean Clifford, Levis spent his final two seasons as the starting quarterback at Kentucky. With the Wildcats, Levis completed 65.7% of his passes for 5,232 yards and 43 touchdowns to 23 interceptions while playing behind a porous offensive line for much of his time in Lexington.

Now, Levis enters the fold in Tennessee where he is expected to sit behind Ryan Tannehill to begin his career with the hope that he could be the Titans’ next franchise quarterback.