Mel Kiper Jr. Makes Surprising NFL Draft Prediction For Will Levis

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The top four quarterbacks of the coming NFL Draft have long been decided. 

Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young, Kentucky's Will Levis, and Florida's Anthony Richardson have dominated the pre-draft discourse. 

Where exactly they'll land is another question altogether. Richardson, in particular, has ping-ponged from being projected as a late-first round pick to among the top five players off the board. 

Similarly, Levis seems to lack a true consensus among football pundits. Eleven days ago, ESPN's Todd McShay predicted Levis would be picked 7th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, on the other hand, has Levis falling all the way to No. 19.

In Mel Kiper Jr.'s mock draft today, the veteran analyst had quite a different forecast for the Kentucky product.

Kiper Jr. envisioned the Indianapolis Colts trading up from the 4th overall pick to the third selection. And with that third pick, Kiper has the Colts drafting Levis as their new franchise QB. 

Here's what Kiper Jr. had to say of Levis' potential fit as Matt Ryan's successor.

"The Colts have a solid roster, but they're not going to win without better quarterback play. Barring a dramatic trade for Lamar Jackson — which would cost two first-round picks — they should move up to ensure they get Levis."

The ESPN analyst further speculated that "Indianapolis has the playmakers to help [Levis] out as a rookie," and that first-year head coach Shane Steichen could level-up his production, much in the same way he did for Jalen Hurts.

It's a bold but not unrealistic call. As it stands, Indianapolis is in a guaranteed position to draft one of the big four quarterbacks. But if GM Chris Ballard decides Will Levis is their QB of the future, he could ensure that becomes a reality by trading spots with the Arizona Cardinals.