Will Levis is officially on the market, and the Giants look like one of the cleanest fits staring everyone in the face.
Once Levis cleared waivers, he became an unrestricted free agent - and it was a little surprising that nobody put in a claim. Even so, his age, draft status and arm talent make him the kind of quarterback teams are going to at least kick around. For New York, the case is easy to see.
Levis, a second-round pick in 2023, wanted a “fresh start” after a rough three-year stretch with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Now he has it, and the Giants could be the next stop.
The team already has Jameis Winston as its backup, but Winston is on an expiring contract heading into 2026 and has also looked toward a post-playing future in television. That makes it smart for New York to start thinking ahead.
There’s also a built-in connection. Brian Callahan, Levis’ former head coach in Tennessee, is now the Giants’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Callahan and Levis overlapped in Tennessee for 2024 and part of 2025 before the Titans moved on from Callahan. Their time together didn’t go especially well, but there’s still value in familiarity, and a change of scenery can change the conversation fast.
The upside is obvious enough to justify a look. Levis came out of college as a productive, highly toolsy prospect, and he has shown flashes as a pro, even if they’ve come in short bursts. He also makes sense as a low-risk option behind Winston and franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, with the potential to grow into a longer-term role.
There’s some real evidence for why a team would take the swing. In 2023, when Levis took over as Tennessee’s starter as a rookie, he posted a solid eight-game stretch.
His ninth and final appearance that season ended early because of a foot issue, and after that he was shut down. Leaving out that shortened game, he ranked among the 36 quarterbacks with 100-plus dropbacks from Weeks 8 through 15 in several notable categories: sixth-most big-time throws with 15, 10th in passing yards with 1,792, tied for 11th in passing first downs with 84 and tied for 12th in yards per attempt at 7.2.
That said, the warning signs are just as loud. During that same stretch, Levis was tied for second-most in sacks taken with 27 and tied for second-most in turnover-worthy throws with 12.
His 59.0 completion percentage was third-to-last, ahead of only Bryce Young and Joe Flacco. He’s the kind of quarterback who gives you plenty to like and plenty to worry about in the same breath.
There’s also the context of what happened in Tennessee. Levis was a holdover from the previous regime when Callahan arrived, and the relationship didn’t end with him remaining the starter. Callahan benched him in 2024, which effectively closed that chapter.
And then there’s the shoulder. Levis missed this past season after choosing to have surgery on his throwing right shoulder last July. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he had the procedure “to ensure long-term health, based on medical opinions,” and while there have been no reported setbacks, there’s no guarantee he’ll look exactly the same once he’s back.
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