The New York Jets have signed former second-round pick Will Levis to bolster the quarterback depth of the roster.
Former second-round draft pick Will Levis is signing with the New York Jets. Levis will join New York on the practice squad, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Levis, 27, missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury. But the veteran signal-caller is now back and ready to continue his NFL career.
Even if he is only on the practice squad, Levis may have a chance to earn a spot on the Jets' overall roster. Injuries tend to occur throughout a season, and Levis is replacing Bailey Zappe, whom the team is releasing.
Levis attended Penn State and Kentucky for college, with him seeing starting roles with the Wildcats. With Kentucky, Levis started two seasons, leading to him being a second-round draft pick.
In 2021, Levis threw for 2,827 yards with 24 touchdowns, while rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdowns. His dual-threat abilities intrigued the NFL while helping the Wildcats win 10 games that season.
The Tennessee Titans took Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting him in the second round after he dropped. Levis was seen as a potential first-round option, but teams decided to pass on him.
Levis has played in 21 games in his career as a starter in the league, going 5-16 overall. Playing with the Titans, Levis never had a ton of weapons to throw the ball to.
But he still managed to put up decent numbers, despite the lack of wins on the field. In 2023 as a rookie, Levis started nine games for Tennessee, throwing 1,808 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Levis was named the starter for the Titans to open 2024, but he didn't see a ton of wins. In 2024, Levis threw for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, going 2-10.
The Titans eventually benched Levis, and the team drafted Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Levis suffered his injury over the offseason, but he was already slated to be the backup for Tennessee.
Tennessee waived Levis ahead of the 2026 season, and now he latches on with the Jets. Levis will be used more as a depth piece for New York, likely to never see the field for the Jets.
But having an experienced quarterback as a backup option could benefit the team. While Levis never saw too much success in the NFL, he has started over 20 games in the league, which can't be replicated.
