One of the biggest storylines of the first night of the NFL Draft is a player who didn't hear his name called. Will Levis was viewed as the favorite to be the pick at No. 4 for the Colts ahead of the draft but instead didn't get picked at all.
The situation grew more and more uncomfortable every time network draft coverage turned to footage of Levis in the draftees' lounge awaiting a call that never came.
According to ESPN Analytics, there was a 92% chance that Will Levis was going to be picked in the top 10. pic.twitter.com/DGUE6xG6EG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2023
Will Levis waiting on that call #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/gAq2ktBK4h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2023
From our NFL Draft coverage: Will Levis waits. pic.twitter.com/hiFr9ozExb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2023
Per ESPN Analytics, Levis had less than a 0.1 percent chance of not being a first-round pick prior to the draft.
Will Levis had almost zero chance to *not* be picked in the first round, according to ESPN Analytics.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2023
Where could he land tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/LVEsZZjmh7
For some, Levis' drop isn't all that shocking. As a starter the past two seasons at Kentucky, Levis threw 23 interceptions, highlighting a penchant for questionable decision-making.
Pundits were as likely to consider him the worst of the "Big Four" QBs — himself, Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson — as they were the best. With a couple of teams potentially needing a QB in the near future (Tampa Bay, Minnesota), it always felt inevitable that he would go somewhere within the first 31 picks.
Instead, he's still on the board heading into Day 2 and will receive more screen time as he plays the waiting game. As great as it is as a soap opera, whichever team selects Levis hopes his fall is even better as a motivating factor. He's already got a long list of doubters to prove wrong.
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