30 April 2023 , 19:04
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Will Levis has delivered his first promise to Tennessee Titans after the franchise traded up to snap the quarterback up on Friday night.
Levis had been expected to be off the board as one of the top 15 picks but had to wait around for much longer than anticipated as he stayed in the green room at the Union Station in Kansas on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old returned home to Connecticut on Friday ahead of a family gathering and got the call from the Titans moments after walking in the door following a day of travel. “I’m gonna work my f****** a** off for this team,” Levis said as he held the phone to his ear.
The Titans ultimately selected Levis with the 33rd overall pick in an aggressive play as they traded with the Arizona Cardinals, who got their hands on a second-round pick (No 41 overall) and third-round pick (No 72) in the 2023 NFL Draft as well as a Round 3 pick next year.
“I was a crying mess but it was so funny,” Levis said on Friday after he was drafted. “We’re all in our airport clothes, a very different atmosphere compared to getting dressed up with the nice suits and dresses last night. But this is what was meant to be and I was ecstatic to get the call.
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“Last night was tough, but I stayed positive. When I saw that they traded up for me, that alone was telling that they wanted me, they wanted this to happen. I ended up where I was meant to be, and I'm just looking forward to competing and getting started.”
Will Levis was left waiting by his phone during the first round of the NFL Draft (Getty Images)Levis became the fourth quarterback pick of the Draft after Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young with the first overall pick, Houston Texans snapped-up CJ Stroud with the next selection and Indianapolis took Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick.
“Those are my guys,” Levis added. “I was extremely happy to see them go where they did. As long as they're not playing me, I wish them the best. [It's] definitely going to be cool to have a lot of young quarterbacks in that division.”
The Titans finished with seven wins and 10 losses last season in the AFC South. But they were ultimately unable to book their place in the play-offs as they finished 11th in the Conference standings. AFC winners Kansas City Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl after getting the better of the Philadelphia Eagles.