Indianapolis Colts: The Case For Will Levis
Will Levis has been one of the most polarizing people in this entire draft cycle. You either love him or you hate him; either way, you're not allowed to sit in the middle.
Well, that's exactly where I am with the former Kentucky quarterback. I would be happy if he was picked by the Indianapolis Colts because there are some things that I really like about him, but he does have some red flags that I can't ignore.
When you look at Levis, his size just screams "Franchise Quarterback." At 6'4", 229 he has the ideal size, and due to the body transformation he underwent after his recent injury, his physique is outstanding. Levis is a really strong guy who, from the second he enters the league, will be among the elite in arm strength. We saw him get clocked throwing a football at 59mph at the Scouting Combine and throwing a pass 65 yards at his pro day.
Arm talent is something that Levis has in bunches; he's able to throw the ball on platform and off, and is also able to adjust arm slots and throw it at multiple angles, which I saw him do a lot.
Watching Levis in 2021 is a totally different experience than watching him in 2022. In 2021 with Liam Coen as his offensive coordinator and other NFL talent around him, Levis was allowed to play in structure and rhythm a lot more often. The play calling was up to speed and Levis didn't have the responsibility of having to carry an entire offense on his own like in 2022. Levis looked much more polished in 2021, made better decisions that year, and honestly, had he declared would have been the first quarterback selected in that draft.
In 2022, everything that could go wrong for Levis did go wrong. He lost the best players around him, lost his OC and quarterbacks coach, and he also got hurt. That brings me to the thing I like the most about Levis, which is his toughness. Not only did he gain my respect last season when I found out he was playing through injury but he never once complained about it publicly.
When you watch Levis on tape, he hangs in the pocket and takes some absolutely brutal hits but still delivers the football to his target. It’s almost Ryan Tannehill-like watching that part of his game. Another part that's Tannehill-like is Levis' athleticism, which doesn't get mentioned a ton but he is a really good athlete that can extend plays and be an asset in the run game.
There is a lot to like about Levis; he’s such a smart kid and with some hard work and the desire to be great, I can absolutely see a path to success for him in the NFL. He has his flaws, though. He’ll be 24 years old by the time training camp starts, he has issues feeling pressure and with his decision-making under it are a couple of things that concern me.
I can comfortably say that I do trust Colts head coach Shane Steichen to build an offense around Levis that can be successful, though; an offense predicated on running the ball and allowing Levis to push the ball downfield vertically.
I think the Colts would do just fine with Levis, even if he does put mayo In his coffee.
