Arguably the biggest surprise during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft was the slide that Kentucky quarterback Will Levis went on. In the days leading up to the draft, momentum was building that Will Levis could be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft; he had reportedly been telling friends and family that the Carolina Panthers were going to pick him.

The Panthers ultimately selected Bryce Young out of Alabama first overall, which wasn’t a huge shock as he was a heavy favorite. The Houston Texans with the No. 2 pick was shrouded in mystery but they ended up selecting Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

It was widely believed for weeks that Young and Stroud would go 1-2, but Will Levis was still expected to be a top pick. The Indianapolis Colts were reportedly enamored with him and had hopes of selecting him at No. 4 overall. But, when they came on the clock, they also passed on him.

Indianapolis instead selected Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Pick by pick went by as Will Levis waited patiently in the Green Room. Surprisingly, he didn’t hear his name called during the first round.

However, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. According to ProFootballTalk via MLFootball on Twitter, there were a few teams that were trying desperately to trade back into the first round to select Will Levis. The Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders were mentioned as three teams who attempted to make a trade.

Those trade talks have not subsided. While no deal was reached on Thursday night, teams are once again attempting to make a move up on Friday. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are on the clock first in Round 2, are receiving heavy trade interest from teams likely angling to be in a position to select Will Levis.

It was certainly a surprise that Will Levis didn’t hear his name called on Day 1, but it doesn’t seem like he will have to wait very long on Day 2 to find a new home. While those three franchises were mentioned, it would not be surprising if other teams got in on the bidding as well.