Just as Will Levis is Climbing All the Draft Boards, the Backlash About His 'Personality' Begins

Michael Hickey. Getty Images.

The best NFL Drafts are the ones where, in the lead up to Thursday, a polarizing figure emerges that stirs debate among the Punditry class. That Eye-of-the-Beholder prospect that there is no consensus on, who'll either save the franchise that drafts him high, or he'll be its undoing, depending on whom you're listening to. One who could go anywhere in the 1st round, or even freefall the way Aaron Rodgers or Brady Quinn did.

Without a doubt, this year that man is Will Levis. Whether he's blazing with confidence about his arm:

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Or displaying why he feels that way:

Or grossing out all of decent society with his disgusting culinary habits:

No one has commanded the attention Levis has. In fact, it's hard to remember the last time anyone did. 

Which has only served to further divide opinions on him. You either love the cocky arrogance of his banana peel-eating, mayo coffee-drinking lifestyle, or you see more red flags than a Chinese leader's state funeral. And getting it right on a player this high profile and this polarizing is how NFL careers get made.

Levis himself said he thinks he might go first overall, which seems insane. The NFL Mock Draft Database, which is a compendium of all the major mocks, has him ranked 11th, which would put him where Tennessee is picking. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah has moved him up three spots to 9th, which would mean Chicago or, more likely, Atlanta at 8. However it does shake out for Levis, he'll be one undoubtedly the story Thursday night.

And so the way these things always go, we're now at the point where the backlash begins. When we get the outpouring of negativity. Every question about the prospect amplified. Every one of his shortcomings exaggerated. And the negatives drawn over with yellow highlighter.

Albert Breer in Sports Illustrated has him going 12th, to Houston. With a major question mark:

I had to find a home for Levis, and if it’s not Indianapolis, it’s hard to find one. Levis has had a very up-and-down ride through the predraft process—from some interviews that left teams wondering about his personality, to the more recent buzz that he’ll go higher than expected. In the scenario I’ve laid out, I do think Richardson would be a consideration. But Levis, who is tough, experienced and was beloved in Lexington, gets the nod, with the feeling he’ll be ready to play faster.

Ross Tucker compares him to a brick-and-mortar that I'm fairly certain has closed all its stores:

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The Patriots got a lot of attention for working Levis out this past weekend, causing a ton of wild speculation they're going to trade up from 14 to get him:

Leading to more talk about divided their organization is, and how no one else in the league seems to like him at all:

Personally, I'm not reading anything into the Pats working Levis out. Let's not forget that in 2021 Josh McDaniels worked out Trevor Lawrence, and there wasn't a sentient creature on the planet who thought Jacksonville wasn't going to take him No. 1. The Patriot do this as a matter of course. It's just due diligence. Not to mention good opposition research for when you face the player. Besides, spending a fortune in draft capital to move up even higher in the top half of the 1st round is the sort of move Belichick would make in the other direction. And did, the last time he had a pick this high, when he dropped back to grab Jerod Mayo. Besides, is taking a QB two drafts after you took a QB the wisest, most stable way to rebuild your infrastructure? I think kinda no. 

That said, bring it on. This is one of the things that makes the NFL Draft the most fascinating offseason event in all of professional sports. All the buildup of Levis over the last few weeks could be coming from teams who love him, or teams who want no part of him but want to boost his stock so somebody else gets suckered into taking him. Same with the negativity coming now, except in the opposite direction. Nobody knows. It's all just spin mixed with propaganda with a shot of spycraft. And no matter when he goes and where he ends up, watching it play out is going to be entertaining as all hell. 

"The Carolina Panthers are on the clock …" can't come soon enough.