Indianapolis Colts take closer look at Will Levis ahead of NFL Draft

The Indianapolis Colts are traveling across the country to inspect their potential quarterbacks one more time. The Colts’ general manager and new head coach will be in Lexington to watch Will Levis work out Thursday, according to SI’s Albert Breer. Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen were in Southern California on Monday to workout CJ Stroud and Bryce Young.

The timing of this development is intriguing.

Indianapolis currently holds the No. 4 overall pick. Early in the NFL Drafty process, Levis felt like the ideal fit in Indy. The deck was reshuffled by prognosticators following Anthony Richardson‘s outstanding NFL Combine, placing the former Florida Gator in mock drafts at No. 4 and sliding Levis further down the picking order.

“Not so fast my friends.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported there is “buzz league-wide” that Indianapolis will take Will Levis at No. 4 overall. An excellent performance this Thursday in Lexington could serve as the final confirmation the team needs to pick the Wildcat in the top five of the NFL Draft later this month.

Will Levis Slides in Latest Todd McShay Mock Draft

Now officially in the doldrums of NFL Draft season, there’s plenty of volatility surrounding Will Levis’ draft stock. Todd McShay often plays devil’s advocate with Mel Kiper on ESPN when discussing the former Kentucky quarterback. He’s not necessarily an opponent of Levis, but he’s not a proponent. In his first two-round NFL Mock Draft, McShay has Levis falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 14 overall.

Welcome to the post-Tom Brady era on the Gulf Coast. The Buccaneers drafted Kyle Trask in Round 2 in 2021 and signed Baker Mayfield to a one-year deal this March, but neither is a surefire solution to the sudden void under center. Trask has nine career pass attempts, and Mayfield is set to wear his fourth jersey in the past three years.

Levis has some stuff to work on — namely his footwork and turnover avoidance — but he has the physical traits to be a franchise quarterback. He comes from a pro-style offense, has a massive arm and can tuck and run with physicality. And with Mayfield and Trask on the roster, Tampa Bay doesn’t have to rush him into the starter’s chair right out of the gate.

Todd McShay, ESPN+

Replacing a legend is no simple feat, but it looks like Levis is up for the task of beating out Kyle Trask. After all, he has the GOAT’s stamp of approval.

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