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Surprising QB prospect emerges as favorite for draft's No. 2 pick

Will Levis William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Surprising QB prospect emerges as favorite to be drafted second overall

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/23/23

Kentucky quarterback Will Levis has drawn mixed reviews leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, but with under a week remaining until the event itself, he appears to be tracking toward the No. 2 overall selection.

Per OddsChecker, Levis has pushed ahead as the betting favorite to be the No. 2 pick in the draft (-110). Those with the next-best odds are Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson (+250) and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (+500).

The line movement is at least somewhat surprising considering Levis' stock appeared to be dropping after reports surfaced detailing awful team interviews. Perhaps that was merely a smokescreen.

Levis, a Penn State transfer, went 17-7 as a starter in two seasons at Kentucky, passing for 5,233 yards and 54 total touchdowns. Despite suffering multiple injuries during the 2022-23 season, Levis finished fifth among SEC quarterbacks in passer rating (151.9) and sixth in passing touchdowns (19) for the campaign.

While Levis possesses impressive arm strength and can make plays with his legs, he must cut back on his turnovers. In 2021, he led the conference in interceptions. He ranked third in the category last season.

WILL LEVIS AIRED IT OUT TO GIVE KENTUCKY SIX ✈️ pic.twitter.com/ARstsewT5Q
— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2022

The Houston Texans, who could use a quarterback, hold the second overall pick in the draft, as well as the 12th overall selection. On Monday, Texans GM Nick Caserio told reporters he's "open to listening" to trade offers for the No. 2 pick. He reiterated that sentiment a short while later, saying that he was willing to "trade with anybody" during an appearance on Sports Radio 610's "Payne & Pendergast."

Could he have his sights set on a deal with a division rival?

OddsChecker doesn't yet have lines on the specific team to draft Levis since his odds have changed, though the Indianapolis Colts, owners of the fourth pick, were the favorites for the Kentucky signal-caller earlier this week. It's no secret that the Colts are seriously considering a quarterback upcoming and they could theoretically be desperate enough to trade up two spots to secure their franchise signal-caller.

Matt Miller of ESPN relayed Friday that an AFC scout informed him that "the Colts want Levis," but that if Stroud was available, things could get "complicated."

"The Colts would probably love for someone to jump them and select Stroud so they can take Levis," another scout told Miller.

Stroud's steady slide down the draft board is as striking as Levis' rise; it wasn't long ago that the former Buckeye was the odds-on favorite to be the first pick. Draft bust Brady Quinn's allegations about Stroud's character and a reported S2 cognition test grade have thrown a fair amount of smoke around Stroud this week.

With all indications pointing toward Alabama's Bryce Young being the first overall selection -- OddsChecker has him as the overwhelming favorite for the first pick at -1430 -- the drama at the 2023 NFL Draft should start heating up after Houston is on the clock. The three-day event, hosted in Kansas City, kicks off on Thursday, April 27.

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