How Will Levis plans to gain the trust of Titans HC Mike Vrabel
The Tennessee Titans selected Will Levis with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, and now the former Kentucky QB is getting thrown into the fire in Tennessee's rookie minicamp.
If things go right Levis will be the Titans backup and eventually push starting QB Ryan Tannehill for playing time. However, Levis is taking a one-day-at-a-time approach and wants head coach Mike Vrabel and the Titans locker room to have faith in him.
"Doing everything I can at this moment to gain his trust, and to gain the trust of my teammates," Levis told ESPN's Turron Davenport. "When I got asked to come here, I knew that I was gonna really enjoy playing for coach. Looking forward to continuing our relationship, continue to keep working for him."
Levis made a handful of impressive plays during the minicamp over the weekend, showcasing his agility and arm talent. While Levis's NFL career is just beginning, his teammates are already getting a good idea of what makes him tick.
“He’s a very intense guy,” Titans WR Colton Cowell said about Levis, per the New York Post. “He really wants to make the most of this opportunity.”
Making the most of the opportunity will coincide with Levis cutting down on interceptions. Levis threw 13 interceptions in 2021 with Kentucky and 10 in 2022. The Titans brass are high on Levis, but Vrabel and the coaching staff know what Levis needs to improve upon.
"That's the most fun part about the whole process is when they pull up the tape of your mistakes," Levis joked. "It's always fun talking through those things. Obviously gonna tell him (Vrabel) the truth whether it was my fault or if there were other things that played into it. At the end of the day, it's always on the quarterback. And I know that regardless of what happens, the only way I can gain the trust of him, my teammates, the fans, is how I perform on the field."
Levis starts his NFL career as QB3 on the Titans depth chart. Vrabel said after the NFL Draft that Tannehill is currently the starter, Malik Willis is the backup, and Levis is the third quarterback. However, this is far from final.
"What I've told them is whatever happens after that will be up to the players," Vrabel said two weeks ago, per NFL.com.
On some rosters being third on the depth chart means little chance of rising to backup or starter, but that isn't the case in Tennessee. The Titans finished 7-10 last season, and 2023 could ultimately be a rebuilding year that leads to Tannehill being benched and Levis becoming the franchise QB.
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