Kentucky QB Will Levis a sudden betting favorite to be No. 2 pick

The Carolina Panthers appear to be zeroing in on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But it’s the sudden shift in betting odds for the second pick that has raised eyebrows.

On Saturday, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis surged from an underdog to a big favorite to be picked second. While that could mean that a team is looking to acquire the No. 2 pick, the likely conclusion is that oddsmakers have caught wind that the Houston Texans covet Levis.

A week ago, Levis was +1000 (10-to-1) to be the No. 2 pick. As of this writing, Levis is now -140 (5-to-7) at DraftKings.

Massive shifts in odds aren’t uncommon prior to the draft, and they typically reflect insider knowledge. In the days prior to the Jacksonville Jaguars picking first overall last year, Travon Walker surged from a +300 underdog to be the top selection to a -225 favorite in the final days before the Jaguars were on the clock.

While it’s no guarantee that Levis winds up in the AFC South as a member of the Texans, the tides certainly appear to be shifting in that direction.