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Will Levis Now -140 to Be Second Overall Pick in NFL Draft Odds; Is There Value on CJ Stroud?

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NFL Football

Updated Apr 24, 2023 · 12:05 PM PDT

Kentucky's Will Levis grimaces while hoisting the 2022 Governor's Cup trophy
Kentucky's Will Levis grimaces while hoisting the 2022 Governor's Cup trophy after the Wildcats defeated Louisville. Nov. 26, 2022 Louisville Vs Kentucky 2022 Football Syndication The Courier Journal
  • Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is the -140 favorite be taken #2 overall in the NFL Draft by the Texans
  • The draft begins Thursday night in Kansas City and runs through Saturday
  • A look at the #2 pick NFL Draft odds can be found below with analysis and wagering advice

Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is now favored to be selected second overall by the Houston Texans in the NFL Draft odds on Thursday night. The NFL Draft time is set to begin at 8:00 pm EST April 27.

It has been speculated in recent weeks that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young will be taken first by the Carolina Panthers. The Texans were then expected to pick Ohio State QB CJ Stroud at #2.

However, the NFL Draft odds have shifted with the draft just three days away from beginning in Kansas City and lasting through Saturday.

NFL Draft #2 Overall Pick Odds

Player Odds
Will Levis (Kentucky) -140
Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech) +225
Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) +350
CJ Stroud (Ohio State) +400
Anthony Richardson (Florida) +1800
Bryce Young (Alabama) +2000
Jalen Carter (Georgia) +3000
Bijon Robinson (Texas) +10000
Will McDonald IV (Iowa State) +13000
Christian Gonzalez (Oregon) +15000
Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) +15000
Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) +15000
Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) +15000
Darnell Wright (Tennessee) +20000
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) +20000
Tanner McKee (Stanford) +20000
Broderick Jones (Georgia) +20000
Brian Branch (Alabama) +20000
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) +20000
Myles Murphy (Clemson) +20000
Zay Flowers (Boston College) +20000
Quentin Johnston (TCU) +20000

Odds to be the number two pick in the NFL Draft odds now heavily favor Kentucky’s Will Levis. Following Levis, Tyree Wilson, Will Anderson Jr and CJ Stroud also have short odds.

Odds as of April 24th at DraftKings.

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Will Levis’ NFL Draft Projections Rising

Young and Stroud were considered the top two quarterbacks in the draft for a long time. However, the stocks of Levis and Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson have been rising recently.

Levis had a good year for Kentucky in 2022, completing 65.4% of his passes for 2,406 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 11 games. He has reportedly impressed teams in private workouts since the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

The picks are a bit of a concern, though. He was also intercepted 13 times in 13 games for the Wildcats during the 2021 season after transferring from Penn State.

Levis was measured at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds at the combine with a 32-inch arm and 10.62-inch hand. He had a 34-inch vertical jump and his broad jump was 10 feet and four inches.

ESPN ranks Levis as the fourth-best overall player in the draft while he is rated #7 by Pro Football Focus, #12 by NFL.com and #14 by The Athletic.

Texans’ NFL Draft Odds Change

As recently as last week, the oddsmaker expected the Texans to select an edge rusher at #2.

Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. had odds of +150 and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson was listed at +230. They were followed by Levis (+250) and Stroud (+275). While Wilson’s odds have dropped just a tad to +225, Anderson’s are now +350 and Stroud’s have gone up to +400.

It would certainly make some sense for the Texans to draft a defensive player.

They need help on both sides of the ball after finishing 31st in the NFL in total offense and 30th in total defense last season while finishing with a 3-13-1 record. New head coach DeMeco Ryans was a linebacker with the Texans for six seasons from 2006-11 and was most recently the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator.

NFL Draft Second Overall Pick

While Levis has big-time physical skills, it is hard to envision the Texans gambling enough to take him at #2. And, for whatever reason, Houston seems to have soured on Stroud in the NFL Draft projections.

Ryans is a defensive guy and a former Alabama linebacker. Thus, Anderson, Crimson Tide linebacker, seems like a very good value wager at +350.

NFL Draft #2 Pick Prediction: Will Anderson (+350)

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