Titans rookies are set to report to training camp today, and the front office has made sure they have their entire draft class under contract. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (via Twitter), the Titans have signed second-round quarterback Will Levis to his rookie pact. Jordan Schultz was first with news of the signing (via Twitter).
Levis’ four-year rookie contract is worth $9.54MM and features a $3.94MM signing bonus. The quarterback was the last of Tennessee’s six rookies to sign his deal, and there were rumors that his camp could have been pushing for a fully guaranteed deal (vs. the standard three-year guarantees that are now standard atop the second round). It will be interesting to see what side ultimately got their way from a contract perspective.
The Kentucky signal-caller was expected to be selected at some point during the first round of the draft. Levis ended up spending the entire first night of the draft in the green room, but it didn’t take long for him to hear his name during the second day of the draft. The Titans ended up acquiring the No. 33 pick and ended the quarterback’s fall down the draft board.
Levis put himself on the NFL map after winning 10 games for the Wildcats in 2021, completing 66.01% of his passes for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns. Levis also displayed an ability to run the ball that year, compiling 376 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. However, thanks in part to a toe injury and the loss of some key personnel (including Wan’Dale Robinson and OC Liam Coen), Levis took a step back in 2022. When all was said and done, Levis completed 65.37% of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, all without displaying the rushing ability of prior years.
Thanks in part to that underwhelming performance, the Titans were able to slide in and select the quarterback atop the second round. The Titans have made it clear that the rookie quarterback won’t immediately earn the starting gig, with veteran Ryan Tannehill expected to keep his spot atop the depth chart for at least the 2023 season. The team used a third-round pick on Malik Willis just last year, but it remains to be seen if the now-third-string QB will stick around Tennessee.
As noted, today’s signing means the Titans have officially inked their entire draft class to their initial NFL contracts:
- Round 1, No. 11: Peter Skoronski, OL (Northwestern) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 33 (from Cardinals): Will Levis, QB (Kentucky)
- Round 3, No. 81 (from Lions through Cardinals): Tyjae Spears, RB (Tulane) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 147: Josh Whyle, TE (Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186 (from Falcons): Jaelyn Duncan, OT (Maryland) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 228: Colton Dowell, WR (Tennessee-Martin) (signed)
Levis to Hopkins Touchdown their 10 for the 2024 season
He was “expected to be selected somewhere in the first round” by the ESPN/NFL Network hype spewers. But obviously none of the GMs thought so.
The fact that he looked like a fool sitting the the green room all the way through round 1 has no bearing at all on his contract. These deals are slotted now. There’s no reason, at all, teams should be shuffling to get their guys signed before camp. This isn’t the 90’s… This should have been completed a month ago.
Read the article. It says why
To be fair, he sat in the green room, you sat on the couch.