NFL Draft: Levis is FINALLY taken, going to the Titans at No. 33 after going unpicked in first round

Will Levis’ wait to be drafted didn’t last long at all on Friday night, as the Titans traded up to draft the Kentucky quarterback at No. 33 after he went unpicked in the first round.

Once considered a top-five prospect, a despondent Levis became the focus of attention on Thursday night in Kansas City as three other quarterbacks were picked ahead of him. 

He opted against attending the second night of the NFL Draft on Friday, but Levis got to hear his name called just minutes into the second round as he begins his career in Tennessee.

One pick before, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father as he was selected by the Steelers – the same team his dad was drafted by in 1999.

Porter Sr. was a fearsome linebacker for Pittsburgh, spending eight years with the franchise and winning Super Bowl XL.

And Porter Jr., who starred at Penn State, will also begin his career in black and yellow after being selected at No. 32.

The 23-year-old, was joined by his girlfriend Gia Duddy, was expected to be a top-five pick

NO THANKS: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, 23, was overlooked on draft night on Thursday

Will Levis played for Kentucky in 2022 and 2021 after representing UPenn in 2019 and 2020

Tight end Michael Mayer, another big name still on the board heading into Friday night, was picked not long after Levis at No. 35 overall by the Raiders.

The Kentucky quarterback Levis was projected as high as the second overall pick.

Levis sat uncomfortably on Friday night, sometimes squirming in front of the TV cameras, as he watched three quarterbacks picked in the first four selections: Young to the Panthers, Stroud to the Texans and Richardson to the Colts.

And Levis’ unfortunate night was watched by a massive crowd, as an average of audience of 11.4 million viewers watched on Friday across ESPN, NFL Network, ABC, ESPN Deportes and digital channels, the league said.

‘Not shocked — surprised,’ said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who had projected Levis as a top-four pick. ‘Once it got into that no-man’s land because there was nobody needing a quarterback mid-round, I thought maybe somebody would jump back in. Maybe the Rams would.

Other mock drafters figured Levis could go as high as No. 2 overall.

‘We all thought he’d be a first-round pick,’ Kiper said, figuring at worst that Levis would drop to Tampa Bay at No. 19. ‘Well, he got down a lot further than that. He’s available in the second round.’

Just like Boomer Esiason, Brett Favre and Geno Smith once were.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) throws a pass against Kentucky on October 29

Quarterbacks were back en vogue in Round 1 of the NFL draft — except for Levis and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, another intriguing prospect still on the board after being bypassed on a wild Thursday night that featured several surprising swaps, two running backs selected among the top dozen picks and a late run on a thin class of wide receivers.

WHO ARE THE BEST PLAYERS AVAILABLE?

Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is another intriguing prospect still on the board after being bypassed on a wild Thursday night that featured several surprising swaps, two running backs selected among the top dozen picks and a late run on a thin class of wide receivers.

Hooker is coming off a torn ACL in November, so slipping into Day 2 was only a mild surprise for the 25-year-old passer who’s hurdled concerns about his health, age and playing style this spring, just not enough to go in the first round.

Other players expected to go in the second round include tight end Luke Musgrave (Oregon State), cornerbacks Brian Branch (Alabama) and Kelee Ringo (Georgia), and guard O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida).

WHO’S ON THE CLOCK IN THE SECOND ROUND?

The Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions have the first three picks in Round 2.

The Los Angeles Rams (36th overall) and Miami Dolphins (51st) jump into action in Round 2 after being spectators on Thursday night. The Rams traded away their first-round pick and the Dolphins were punished by the league for tampering.

The Denver Broncos (67th) and Cleveland Browns (74th) must wait for the third round, barring a trade to move up.

Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer is expected to be taken in the second round on Friday 

DRAFT PICKS SO FAR

Jalen Carter was picked at ninth overall by the Eagles after once being projected to go first overall.

Carter’s stock dropped after pleading no contest to two misdemeanors (reckless driving and racing) and being sentenced to a year of probation and community service in March on charges related to an automobile accident that killed a Georgia teammate and football staffer.

Young, Stroud, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (Texans), Richardson and Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks) were the top five selections. 

Meanwhile, Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah was the last player picked in the first round by the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.