ESPN NFL insider says Will Levis is a Top 5 pick despite questions, concerns about narcissism
Even though he’s heard from various sources around the NFL that Will Levis and his commitment to a bodybuilder-esque physique is problematic, ESPN insider Morten Andersen is confident the former Kentucky quarterback will be a Top 5 pick. And at the end of the day, any team that drafts him can tell him to stay away from the weight room.
However, after his set of photos last week showing his increased bulk and muscle since the season ended, questions about Levis and his desire to lift versus training to be a smooth thrower will persist. Andersen has no doubt about that.
“First of all, let me just bring up a couple things. It’s true that Will Levis has had mixed interviews. I wouldn’t say they’re all bad. Some teams have liked the interviews, his testing on processing and assessment have been very good. Just short of Bryce Young. And he is physically just dynamic. And if anybody, in my opinion, wants to trade up for Will Levis, they’re going to have to go into the Top 5. I think he goes in the Top 5, I don’t think he slides. I will say this: Is he a narcissist? Because last week, as you have teased Field [Yates], he posted on social media a before and after look of what he looked like when he wasn’t lifting weights a whole lot because he was injured this year,” Andersen said.
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Andersen continued: “And the after look is truly a bodybuilder. And one team told me, they said, ‘That’s a narcissist and he won’t be able to lift that much.’ But Mel and I have talked about this on the phone, you just tell him, ‘Hey, you’re not going in to the weight room to work on your upper body. You need to be looser up there, you don’t need to be tight. He has a very consistent release, so it kind of flies in the face of some of that. But no question, a team can control how Will Levis works out in the weight room.”
The physical traits and tools he brings to the table are Levis’ best attributes. He’s big, tall and strong with a cannon arm and decent mobility. He’s not afraid of some contact — sometimes to his detriment — and tested well between the ears at the combine, according to Andersen. All the pieces are there for him to be a good NFL quarterback, and one taken high in the NFL draft.
But that just might mean that Levis will need to forego the bench press and do more stretching.