Analyst: Panthers should take Will Levis over Bryce Young

Reddit isn't the only entity linking Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis with the Carolina Panthers and the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

For a piece published Tuesday morning, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco named Levis his top-ranked quarterback in this draft class over Bryce Young of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Thus, Prisco believes the Panthers should select Levis with the first-overall choice on Thursday night. 

"The reality is NFL people like Levis a lot more than they've led on," Prisco noted. Prisco also said that "Young is the best (quarterback) right now, but I just couldn't draft a quarterback that small first overall." 

Young famously measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds at the combine. Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer indicated last week he isn't worried about Young's size.

In mock drafts updated throughout the spring, Prisco has predicted Carolina will take Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 1 and let Young fall to the Houston Texans and the second pick. On Tuesday, Prisco compared Levis to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.

"When Allen came out of Wyoming, his completion percentage was the crux of the hate," Prisco wrote. "...But the tape showed many passes being dropped because of his powerful arm and some bad throws because of mechanics that needed fixing, which he did in the NFL. Levis had troubles because of other issues, but his mechanics weren't great all the time either. They will be fixed. He will be fixed." 

All of that aside, Prisco did admit he assumes Young and not Levis will go to the Panthers with the first pick. Interestingly, though, Prisco shared his thoughts the same day that Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and other outlets mentioned the betting odds for Levis to be the top player selected improved after a Reddit post claimed the Kentucky product has let those close to him know he'll be the draft's first pick. 

As of early Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Young as the overwhelming favorite to be the top pick at -1000 odds. Levis was a distant second at +700. 

Also on Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Levis second among quarterback prospects behind only Young. 

"Levis played in a pro-style offense at Kentucky, and he's not going to need much time to adjust to the NFL," Kiper said. "He can maneuver the pocket and throw on the run. Many of Levis' turnovers came when he tried to use his arm to force throws, and he's going to be punished for mistakes at the next level. He is the real deal, though, and there are lots of Levis fans in the NFL."