Draft Fact or Fiction: Titans Moving Up, Sam LaPorta Rising, Will Levis Slipping

In today’s Fact or Fiction — NFL Draft edition — I look at three big recent topics around the NFL Draft and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. The Titans could surprise everyone and move up to take a QB at No. 3.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Everyone talks about the Indianapolis Colts moving up to No. 3 to get their QB or even the Seattle Seahawks jumping up from No. 5 but keep an eye on the Titans. Monti Ossenfort comes over to the Titans from the Cardinals, who pick at No. 3 the Cards want to move down and still land an elite pass rusher and could do so at No. 11. Ryan Tannehill isn’t the answer for the Titans, and they want to build around a new QB, and I hear Anthony Richardson is who they covet at No. 3. Keep an eye on this.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) pulls back to throw as Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas (21) approaches during the NCAA college football game on Saturday, September 24, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn.

2. Sam LaPorta will be the first TE taken.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

The Iowa TE has a few things going for him. He has impressed scouts with his work ethic and attitude as he maintained his status as a leader in the locker room despite the awful offensive performance of the team this season, and he played in the team’s bowl game when he didn’t have to. He’s also benefiting from George Kittle and TJ Hockenson being NFL stars from Iowa (Noah Fant doesn’t hurt either), and NFL scouts absolutely have fallen in love with Iowa TE prospects. But while LaPorta is moving up the charts to a possible late round one pick, it’s still Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer who will be TE1. Green Bay, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Detroit have all been linked to Mayer but watch for the Saints late in round one for LaPorta if Mayer is gone. The Saints have other needs for sure, but I hear they like LaPorta a lot, and even with pick No. 40 he could be gone.

Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa tight end Sam Laporta (TE07) participates in drills at Lucas Oil Stadium.

3. Will Levis is slipping badly.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Last week I felt he was a lock for the top 10. This week I’m not sure as more and more scouts I talk to tell me the kid just doesn’t get it. I hear the words “goofy” and “eccentric” more and more lately, and there is concern about his focus and leadership ability. He’s toned his body like no other QB since Brady Quinn in 2007, and he’s clearly a worker in the weight room, but one scout told me, “he’s too muscled up,” which, oddly, I heard about Quinn way back when. It’s a QB-desperate league, and I still have him in round one, but he’s sliding.