Will Levis, quarterback, free agent
Will Levis, quarterback, free agent
After three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, former second-round pick Will Levis was waived by the team during their final round of roster cuts. The ex-Kentucky Wildcat quarterback was the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite starting 21 games between 2023 and 2024, Will Levis was on the outside looking in after the Titans selected University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in 2025. After recovering from surgery for a shoulder injury last July that cost him his 2025 season, Levis spent training camp competing with former first-round pick Mitchell Trubisky for the backup quarterback job. Unfortunately, Levis was on the losing end of that competition, leading to his eventual release.
Looking for a new opportunity, Will Levis was recently invited to work out with the New York Jets. With veteran Geno Smith deemed the undisputed starting quarterback, the Jets quarterback room is limited in starting experience behind him. Current backup quarterback Cade Klubnik is a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in this year’s draft. Meanwhile, practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe has started only nine games through five seasons with unproductive results. Would taking a chance on Will Levis be worth the risk for New York?
The Jets worked out two QBs today, per source:
Will Levis
Jack Plummer
It'd be for a spot on the practice squad, I'm told.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 3, 2026
Aug 29, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) stands in the pocket against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jets Work Out Two QBs, Including Will Levis
The New York Jets season kicks off in less than two weeks when they open 2026 on the road vs. the Tennessee Titans on September 13th. Entering the season with new offensive and defensive coordinators and an exciting blend of four top-50 draft picks and productive veterans on both sides of the ball, head coach Aaron Glenn looks to improve upon the team’s 3-14 record in 2025. The offense is now led by the return of 2013 second-round pick Geno Smith as their starting quarterback. Meanwhile, the defensive line will feature exciting second-overall pick edge rusher David Bailey out of Texas Tech.
Geno Smith, quarterback, New York Jets
Jul 29, 2026; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) participates in a drill during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Despite how poorly 2025 went, there is reason for optimism for the team’s passing game improving in 2026. After finishing 2025 with a league-worst average of 140.3 passing yards per game, there is an air of optimism about improving the team’s aerial attack. After leading the league in interceptions last season during his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Geno Smith is entering this season with a chip on his shoulder. Before 2025, Geno Smith was a productive starter from 2022 to 2024 with the Seattle Seahawks. In that span, Smith threw for 12,226 yards while completing 68.5% of his passes and throwing for 71 touchdowns against 35 interceptions.
Along with Smith, the New York Jets offense features a productive duo between star running back Breece Hall and former Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson leading the wide receiver room. Along with Wilson, the Jets wide receiver room features 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, 2026 first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr., and explosive kick returner Isaiah Williams. Not to mention an exciting duo at tight end between 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor and 16th overall pick Kenyon Sadiq at tight end. Under the guidance of former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich as the new offensive coordinator, the Jets passing game should be more productive this season.
Aug 28, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) scrambles during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
However, New York has to prepare itself in the event of Geno Smith getting hurt. Thus far, rookie Cade Klubnik is the backup quarterback. The fourth-round pick was a four-year starter at Clemson before entering the league. During his tenure, Klubnik threw for over 10,000 passing yards with 73 passing touchdowns to 24 interceptions while completing 64% of his passes. He also ran for over 875 rushing yards while scoring 17 touchdowns. During the preseason, Klubnik showed flashes of promise.
However, he also performed like a day-three draft pick. Cade Klubnik could turn into a useful backup quarterback one day. However, if Geno Smith gets hurt, can he be trusted to lead an NFL offense for an extended period of time?
Jets Workout Former Titans Starting Quarterback Will Levis
Aug 29, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) stands in the pocket against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Entering the season with Cade Klubnik as the team’s backup quarterback is a rookie is a major risk. Cade Klubnik could prove to be a capable backup quarterback, but it’s too early to tell. Especially with how lackluster Bailey Zappe has played during the regular season in his career. As a result, the Jets have worked out two quarterbacks who could potentially join the roster. That duo is 2023 second-round pick Will Levis and reigning XFL MVP Jack Plummer.
Will Levis was the 33rd overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2023 NFL Draft. Before his NFL journey began, Will Levis started for two seasons at the University of Kentucky, starting 24 games between 2021 and 2022. During that span, Levis completed 65.7% of his passes for 5,233 passing yards while throwing 43 touchdowns to 23 interceptions, with an effective passer rating of 149.9. In addition, Levis ran for 269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Levis’ best season came in 2021, when he threw for 2827 yards and 24 touchdowns with 13 interceptions while completing 66% of his passes, with future Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen as his offensive coordinator.
Will Levis’ NFL career has been off to a rocky start. During his rookie season, Levis showed some promise of being the Titans quarterback of the future. In 2023, Levis started nine games while throwing for 1,808 yards with eight touchdowns against four interceptions while completing 58.4% of his passes. Entering 2024, the Titans moved on from longtime head coach Mike Vrabel and hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.
Levis started 12 games for the Titans in 2024. While Levis improved his completion percentage to 63.1%, he threw 12 interceptions with only 13 total touchdowns and 2,091 yards. During that span, the Titans went 2-10. After the Titans finished with a 3-14 record, the Titans drafted University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in 2025.
Despite choosing a quarterback, the Titans would afford Levis every opportunity to retain the starting job. Unfortunately, he suffered a shoulder injury to his right arm in July that ended Levis’ season. While Levis was injured, Cam Ward started all 17 games while throwing for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and completing 59.8% of his passes.
During the season, the Titans fired Brian Callahan. Tennessee promoted offensive assistant Mike McCoy to replace Callahan. During the offseason, the Titans hired ex-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and ex-New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator. During the offseason, the Titans signed former second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky to compete with Levis for the Titans backup quarterback job. Eventually, Trubisky won the competition, and Levis was placed on waivers on August 30th.
Jets also work out 2026 XFL MVP Jack Plummer
Along with Will Levis, the New York Jets also brought in former Louisville quarterback and 2026 XFL MVP Jack Plummer for a workout. Jack Plummer spent his collegiate career playing at Purdue, California, and finally finishing with the Louisville Cardinals. Through 47 games, Plummer completed 64.1% of his passes for 9,728 yards with 68 touchdown passes against 31 interceptions. After going undrafted in 2024, Plummer signed with the Carolina Panthers as a member of their practice squad. Plummer was eventually waived in August of 2025.
He spent this past Spring as the starting quarterback of the Orlando Breakers in the XFL. Playing for head coach and former New York Jets tight end Anthony Becht, Plummer had an outstanding season. Plummer led the league in completed passes, passing yards, and passer rating this past season. Through 10 games, Plummer led the Breakers to an 8-2 record while throwing for 2,189 yards with 17 passing touchdowns to only one interception while completing 65% of his passes. Plummer also played with Jets practice squad wide receiver Cam Camper. (23 receptions, 340 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns in the UFL.)
The Last Word
Entering the 2026 season, the New York Jets are taking a calculated risk with Cade Klubnik as their backup quarterback. If anything happens to Geno Smith, it’s asking a lot for an inexperienced Klubnik to lead the offense. However, after outperforming Bailey Zappe, New York is left with limited options. While Jack Plummer has experience with Cam Camper, of the two quarterbacks, Will Levis would make more sense to sign.
Despite underperforming in Tennessee, Will Levis still has 21 games of starting experience in the NFL. Despite his inconsistency, Levis has great size at the position, standing 6’4″ and weighing 229 lbs. In addition, Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich is familiar with Levis’ game, having heavily scouted Levis in 2023 while head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Leaning on the collective experience of both Frank Reich and current quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, perhaps the veteran coaching duo can refine Levis’ approach and allow the ex-Titans second-round pick to become a capable backup quarterback.
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Main Photo: [Steve Roberts] – Reuters Connect