Will Levis' draft-night spiral took many experts by surprise. But it left one — former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf — searching for a silver lining.
In an appearance on Friday's episode of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football", Leaf labeled Levis as his biggest winner of Day 1.
That may sound inflammatory. But let's hear him out.
MORE: Why wasn't Will Levis a first-round pick?
Leaf empathized with the embarrassment Levis must have felt to be left in the green room for so long Thursday without a resolution. However, the former No. 2 pick believes that the young quarterback's tumble down draft boards could be accompanied by a decrease in expectations, something that could be very helpful to the Kentucky standout's reputation among front offices.
"Most people if you talked to them, did not have a first-round grade for Will Levis," Leaf said. "That meant, if you drafted him in the first round, you were reaching, and there were going to be unrealistic expectations that come with that.
"If he were a top-five pick, the word 'bust', if it doesn't work out, is something I can relate to. And it sticks with you. And it can wear as an anchor for some time."
Who "won" round 1 of the #NFLDraft ??@RyanDLeaf says it was actually 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴 pic.twitter.com/gjZfQktW3j
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 28, 2023
Leaf has a point. Quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Derek Carr were allowed to develop at their own pace bereft the suffocating pressure that often accompanies first-round picks. Another second-round selection briefly became the highest-paid player in NFL history. His name? Jalen Hurts.
MORE: Who was left in NFL Draft green room after Round 1?
That's not to say the endeavor wasn't mortifying for Levis. But Leaf argues that it's a glimpse into disappointment and failure that is part and parcel of playing the game at the highest level. It's a feeling every signal-caller will experience one time or another in their career.
"Adversity like that, maybe humiliation like that, you grow from it," Leaf said. "You learn how to deal with it in a positive and healthy way. Just like what it's going to be like to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Because you're going to fail. On the biggest stage possible."
Levis won't have access to the gaudy rookie contracts offered to those with first-round billing. As Hurts proved, though, the bag can still be deep. You just have to perform.
"You can still be the greatest quarterback to ever play and not be drafted in the first round," Leaf said "Look at Kurt Warner. Look at Tom Brady. It's all available to you. The expectations don't exist."
