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Will Levis received words of encouragement from Sauce Gardner.

The newly minted Titans quarterback’s 2023 NFL Draft slide was halted by Tennessee and the No. 33 overall pick after he wasn’t taken in the first round on Thursday, despite being projected as a top-five pick.

Gardner, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year wasn’t in the same scenario that Levis was currently stuck in, but the star cornerback navigated the nerves and uncertainty that comes with stepping into another phase of a career.

“Will Levis… God makes no mistakes. You will be great,” Gardner tweeted Thursday night.


  Will Levis waits to be drafted in the green room backstage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images Will Levis waits to be drafted in the green room backstage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images

Levis was left in the green room on Thursday, but opted to leave Kansas City’s Union Station for Friday’s Round 2, according to multiple reports.

Gardner’s tweet sparked a reaction from those in Twitter, including a relevant photo of Lamar Jackson who experienced something similar in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The 2016 Heisman winner was also left alone in the green room during his draft, waiting until the very end of the first round — the 32nd overall pick — to be taken by the Ravens.

Now, Jackson is a two-time Pro Bowler, an NFL MVP and the NFL’s highest-paid player after agreeing to a $260 million deal with Baltimore on Thursday.

Similar to Jackson, Levis entered the draft with a lot of buzz and rumors with the Kentucky slinger expected to go as high as No. 2 overall.

Levis was along thrust further into the draft headlines thanks to a Reddit rumor alleging he had spread the news to friends and family he would be selected first overall by the Panthers.

Instead, former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was selected as the top pick.


  Gardner cemented himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his rookie season. Joshua Bessex/Getty Images Gardner cemented himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his rookie season. Joshua Bessex/Getty Images


  Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner speaks to the media in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner speaks to the media in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

  Kentucky’s Will Levis warms up during the NCAA college football team’s NFL Pro Day. AP Kentucky’s Will Levis warms up during the NCAA college football team’s NFL Pro Day. AP

Instead, it took an extra day for Levis to hear his name called at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Similarly, time will tell if he can live up to Gardner’s lofty prediction as well.

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