Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The Las Vegas Raiders face uncertainty at the most important position in football. While changes are happening this offseason, the Silver and Black are in a position to find their quarterback of the future in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler might have the biggest decision of his career in deciding who will lead the franchise under center for the 2023 season.
As we’ve been doing the entire offseason, we're working alongside SI’s Draft Bible to get you the latest information on any potential players the Raiders might consider drafting in the upcoming draft.
“We’re going to continue to find players who fit what we look for, and continue to build this team in our vision, and I think we’re going to, at the same time, our goal is to win football games, and our goal for next year is to make an improvement over where we were this year,” Ziegler said.
Quarterback Will Levis, Kentucky Wildcats
“A quick-reacting quarterback who is mechanically sound but will need to learn to go through his progressions at the next level,” Draft Bible said of Levis.
At 6-3 and 232 pounds, Levis fits what scouts are looking for in a quarterback.
Levis, considered one of the top quarterback prospects and projected to come off the board within the first ten picks of this year’s draft, can be the franchise's new face.
The former Penn State quarterback transferred to Kentucky after the 2020 season. Under the direction of Liam Coen, a protege and former Offensive Coordinator to Los Angeles Rams Coach Sean McVay, Levis's career skyrocketed into one of the top prospects in this year’s draft.
Coen brought out Levis's strengths in the up-tempo offense he ran with the Rams.
In his breakout season in 2021, Levis completed 232 passes for 2,827 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also produced 516 rushing yards and another nine touchdowns on the ground while leading the Wildcats to a 10-3 record.
Levis has exceptional arm talent with a quick release and the strength and athleticism to make plays with his legs.
After an amazing 2021 season, Levis' stats regressed in 2022, when he would throw for 186 completions for 2,416 yards and 19 touchdowns with ten interceptions.
Football Focus said his offensive grade dropped from 90.6 to 68.6 in 2022.
The turnover issue needs to improve but under an NFL Head Coach.
As for the Raiders, selecting Levis in the first round will not only have a quarterback for the future and hope of replicating the success he had in 2021.
The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.
The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
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