Will Levis has a new NFL opportunity with the New York Jets, but his contract situation is very different from the four-year rookie deal he originally signed with the Tennessee Titans.
The Jets are signing Levis to their practice squad after Tennessee waived the former second-round quarterback at the end of the 2026 preseason. That means New York did not inherit Levis’ Titans contract. Instead, Levis signed a new practice-squad contract governed by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, while Tennessee was left with dead-money charges from his old deal.
What Contract Did Will Levis Sign With The Jets?
Levis is joining the Jets on a practice-squad contract rather than a standard 53-man-roster contract.
CBS Sports reported on September 22 that New York was adding Levis to its practice squad after previously bringing him in for a workout shortly after Tennessee released him. [CBS Sports]
The Jets are releasing quarterback Bailey Zappe from the practice squad to create the spot for Levis. [CBS Sports]
The exact weekly salary New York agreed to pay Levis has not been publicly reported.
How Much Can Will Levis Make On The Jets Practice Squad?
As a veteran practice-squad player, Levis can receive between $18,350 and $22,850 per week during the 2026 season.
The NFL collective bargaining agreement establishes a separate salary range for experienced practice-squad players. In 2026, players who fall into the veteran category can negotiate a fixed weekly salary between:
| 2026 Veteran Practice-Squad Pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum per week | $18,350 |
| Maximum per week | $22,850 |
Levis has multiple accrued NFL seasons, so he is not in the lower-paid developmental practice-squad category.
Because the precise amount in his Jets contract has not been disclosed, it would be inaccurate to say that Levis is definitely making either the minimum or maximum.
How Much Could Levis Make For The Rest Of The 2026 Season?
If Levis remains on the Jets practice squad for the remainder of the regular season, his earnings would likely be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With approximately 16 regular-season weeks remaining when he joined New York after Week 2, the 2026 veteran practice-squad range produces roughly the following totals:
| Weekly Salary | Approximate 16-Week Total |
|---|---|
| $18,350 | $293,600 |
| $22,850 | $365,600 |
Those figures are only illustrations based on the CBA range. Levis’ actual earnings depend on his negotiated weekly salary, how long he remains on the practice squad and whether he is elevated or signed to the active roster.
Practice-squad players are also paid for postseason weeks if their club remains in the playoffs and the player remains on the practice squad. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
Does Will Levis Get A Signing Bonus From The Jets?
A normal NFL practice-squad contract cannot include the type of signing bonus and guaranteed money associated with a standard player contract.
The collective bargaining agreement says practice-squad contracts are limited to the specified weekly salary and cannot include additional salary guarantees, bonuses or incentives. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
That is a major difference between Levis’ Jets arrangement and the multimillion-dollar rookie contract he signed after entering the NFL.
What Was Will Levis’ Titans Contract?
Levis originally signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $9.54 million with Tennessee.
The deal included approximately:
- $9.54 million in total contract value.
- $3.94 million signing bonus.
- $8.73 million in total guarantees.
- $2.39 million average annual value.
The contract covered the 2023 through 2026 seasons and would have made Levis an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.
What Was Will Levis Supposed To Make In 2026 With Tennessee?
Before being released, Levis was scheduled to have a 2026 cap hit of approximately $3.04 million.
His scheduled compensation included a $1.145 million base salary and approximately $906,204 in roster-bonus money. [Spotrac]
| 2026 Titans Contract Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base salary | $1.145 million |
| Roster bonus | $906,204 |
| Prorated signing bonus | Approximately $984,939 |
| Scheduled cap hit | Approximately $3.04 million |
Why Didn’t The Jets Inherit Levis’ Titans Contract?
Because Tennessee waived Levis and no team claimed him.
The Titans placed Levis on waivers on August 30 while reducing their roster to 53 players. He went unclaimed when the waiver period expired the following day. [Reuters]
Once Levis cleared waivers, his Tennessee player contract was terminated and he became free to negotiate a new deal.
Had another club claimed Levis on waivers, that team generally would have assumed his existing contract. Because nobody submitted a successful claim, the old deal did not follow him to New York.
Did Any Team Claim Will Levis Off Waivers?
No.
Levis cleared waivers after Tennessee released him during final roster cuts. That allowed him to become a free agent rather than automatically joining another team’s 53-man roster. [CBS Sports]
The Jets then brought him in for a workout but initially chose not to sign him.
They returned to Levis approximately three weeks later and added him to the practice squad.
Does Tennessee Still Have To Pay For Will Levis?
Tennessee still has salary-cap consequences from Levis’ rookie contract even though he now belongs to the Jets.
Spotrac calculated that releasing Levis leaves Tennessee with approximately $2.225 million in 2026 dead-cap money while saving roughly $811,000 against what his cap charge would have been had he remained on the roster. [Spotrac]
| Titans 2026 Cap Result | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Original Levis cap hit | $3.036 million |
| Dead cap after release | $2.225 million |
| Cap savings | $811,000 |
The dead-cap charge comes from financial commitments already made or guaranteed under the rookie contract, including remaining signing-bonus accounting and guaranteed compensation.
In other words, cutting Levis did not simply erase his contract from Tennessee’s salary cap.
What Is Dead Cap Money?
Dead money is salary-cap space charged to a team for a player who is no longer on its roster.
Signing bonuses are generally spread across the years of an NFL contract for salary-cap accounting purposes. If a player is released before the contract ends, remaining bonus charges and certain guaranteed amounts can remain on the team’s salary cap.
That is why Tennessee can still carry a Levis cap charge even though he is now practicing for the Jets.
The Jets do not inherit that dead money. It remains Tennessee’s responsibility.
Is Will Levis On The Jets 53-Man Roster?
No. Levis is currently joining the practice squad.
That means he does not occupy one of New York’s 53 active-roster spots.
The Jets’ quarterback depth chart currently has Geno Smith as the starter and rookie Cade Klubnik as the primary backup. CBS Sports reported that New York likely wanted another quarterback with meaningful NFL starting experience behind them. [CBS Sports]
Levis gives the Jets a quarterback who has already started 21 NFL games without forcing the team to use an active-roster spot on him immediately.
Can Will Levis Play In A Game For The Jets?
Yes, but the Jets would first have to elevate or sign him to the active roster.
NFL rules allow teams to temporarily elevate qualifying players from the practice squad for games without immediately giving them permanent 53-man-roster contracts. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
If Levis were elevated for a regular-season game, his compensation for that week would be adjusted based on the applicable active-roster minimum salary for a player with his credited experience rather than simply his normal practice-squad weekly rate. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
The Jets could also sign him to a conventional active-roster contract if they wanted to keep him permanently on the 53-man roster.
Can Another NFL Team Sign Will Levis Away From The Jets?
Yes. A practice-squad contract does not give the Jets the same control over Levis that a normal active-roster contract would.
Another NFL team can sign a Jets practice-squad player to its active roster, subject to the league’s practice-squad rules.
If another club signs Levis from New York’s practice squad, the CBA generally requires that club to count him on its active roster for three games and guarantees him three weeks of active-roster minimum salary even if he is released earlier. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
A team cannot simply take him from the Jets and place him directly on its own practice squad. It would have to offer him an active-roster NFL contract.
Why Did The Jets Sign Will Levis?
New York wanted additional experienced quarterback depth behind Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik.
Smith is firmly established as the starter, while Klubnik is a rookie. Levis gives New York a third quarterback who has actually started NFL games. [CBS Sports]
Levis has made 21 NFL starts and finished his Tennessee career with a 5-16 starting record. [CBS Sports]
The practice squad therefore gives the Jets an inexpensive way to develop an experienced emergency option without disturbing their current quarterback hierarchy.
Why Did The Titans Release Will Levis?
Levis had fallen out of Tennessee’s long-term quarterback plans.
The Titans selected him with the 33rd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and initially hoped he could develop into their franchise quarterback. [Reuters]
He showed immediate promise by throwing four touchdown passes in his first NFL start against Atlanta, tying the league record for touchdown passes in an NFL debut. [CBS Sports]
But the consistency never followed.
Levis started nine games as a rookie and entered 2024 as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. He threw for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions that season, while the Titans went 2-10 in his starts. [Reuters]
Tennessee eventually benched him and finished with the NFL’s worst record.
How Did Cam Ward Affect Will Levis’ Future?
The Titans effectively replaced Levis when they selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Once Ward arrived, Tennessee’s quarterback plans were centered around developing him rather than attempting to rebuild the offense around Levis. [CBS Sports]
Levis then missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. [Reuters]
By the 2026 preseason, he was competing for a backup job rather than a starting position.
Why Didn’t Tennessee Trade Will Levis?
The Titans reportedly explored a trade but could not find another club willing to make a deal.
Tennessee ultimately waived Levis during its final roster reduction after he fell behind other quarterbacks in the competition to back up Ward. [CBS Sports]
The fact that Levis subsequently went unclaimed on waivers reinforces why a trade was difficult: another team could simply wait for Tennessee to release him rather than surrendering draft capital and assuming the remaining rookie contract.
How Much Did Will Levis Make With The Titans?
Levis earned roughly $7.5 million during his first three NFL seasons before the final year of his rookie contract.
Spotrac lists approximately:
| Season | Approximate Cash Earnings |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.69 million |
| 2024 | $1.18 million |
| 2025 | $1.63 million |
| Total through 2025 | About $7.5 million |
A large portion of his rookie-year earnings came from the approximately $3.94 million signing bonus he received after being drafted.
Why Was Will Levis’ Rookie Contract So Large For A Second-Round Pick?
Levis was essentially the first player selected after the first round.
Tennessee drafted him 33rd overall in 2023, making him the second selection of Round 2.
NFL rookie contracts are largely determined by draft position under the league’s rookie wage scale. Players selected near the beginning of the second round therefore receive contracts worth considerably more than players selected later in the draft.
Levis’ contract also contained an unusually large guaranteed percentage for a second-round selection, with approximately $8.73 million of his $9.54 million deal guaranteed. [Spotrac]
Did Will Levis Have A Fifth-Year Option?
No.
The NFL’s fifth-year option applies only to first-round draft picks.
Because Levis was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the second round, his rookie contract was limited to four seasons with no team-controlled fifth-year option.
Had Tennessee kept him through the end of his rookie contract, Levis would have been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. [Spotrac]
Could The Jets Eventually Give Will Levis A New NFL Contract?
Yes.
The practice-squad deal is not necessarily the end of Levis’ contract story.
If the Jets need another quarterback because of injury or performance, they can sign Levis to their 53-man roster. At that point, the sides would execute a standard NFL player contract rather than continuing under the practice-squad agreement.
The salary would then have to satisfy NFL active-roster minimums and could include other negotiated contract terms.
Could Will Levis Become A Free Agent Again?
Yes. Practice-squad jobs are relatively fluid.
The Jets can terminate Levis’ practice-squad contract, after which he would again become available to other clubs.
Because practice-squad agreements do not contain the guarantees associated with his old Titans contract, New York has considerably more roster flexibility than Tennessee had under the rookie deal.
Will Levis Contract Timeline
| Date | Contract Development |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2023 | Tennessee selects Levis with the No. 33 overall pick. |
| July 2023 | Levis signs a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $9.54 million with $8.73 million guaranteed. |
| 2023 | Levis becomes Tennessee’s starting quarterback during his rookie season. |
| 2024 | Levis enters the season as the starter but is eventually benched. |
| 2025 | Levis misses the season following shoulder surgery as Tennessee moves forward with No. 1 pick Cam Ward. |
| August 30, 2026 | The Titans waive Levis during final roster cuts. |
| August 31, 2026 | Levis goes unclaimed on waivers and becomes a free agent. |
| Early September 2026 | The Jets bring Levis in for a workout but do not immediately sign him. |
| September 22, 2026 | New York agrees to add Levis to its practice squad and releases Bailey Zappe. |
Will Levis Jets Contract FAQ
Did the Jets sign Will Levis?
Yes. The Jets are adding Levis to their practice squad.
Is Will Levis on the Jets’ active roster?
No. He is initially joining New York’s practice squad rather than its 53-man roster.
How much is Will Levis making with the Jets?
The exact salary has not been reported. Under the 2026 NFL collective bargaining agreement, an experienced practice-squad player can receive between $18,350 and $22,850 per week. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
Is Will Levis still being paid under his Titans contract?
His Titans player contract was terminated when Tennessee waived him and he cleared waivers. Tennessee still carries dead-cap consequences and guaranteed-contract accounting from the old deal, but his relationship with the Jets is governed by a new practice-squad contract.
How much was Will Levis’ Titans contract worth?
Approximately $9.54 million over four years, including a roughly $3.94 million signing bonus and $8.73 million guaranteed. [Spotrac]
How much dead money did the Titans take by cutting Will Levis?
Spotrac calculates approximately $2.225 million in 2026 dead cap, with about $811,000 in cap savings compared with keeping him under his original contract. [Spotrac]
Why did the Titans cut Will Levis?
Levis had fallen out of Tennessee’s quarterback plans after inconsistent play, a season lost to shoulder surgery and the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Tennessee was unable to find a trade and released him during final roster cuts.
Who is ahead of Will Levis on the Jets depth chart?
Geno Smith is New York’s starting quarterback, while rookie Cade Klubnik is the primary backup. Levis provides experienced developmental and emergency depth. [CBS Sports]
Can the Jets use Will Levis in a game?
Yes. New York can elevate him from the practice squad for a game or sign him to the permanent 53-man roster.
Can another team sign Will Levis?
Yes. Another team can sign Levis away from the Jets practice squad by putting him on its active roster under NFL practice-squad rules. [NFL CBA/Over The Cap]
Does Will Levis have a fifth-year option?
No. Fifth-year options are available only for first-round picks. Levis was selected first in the second round at No. 33 overall.
When would Will Levis have become a free agent under his rookie contract?
His original four-year deal was scheduled to expire after the 2026 season, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027. Tennessee’s decision to waive him ended that contract early.
Why did the Jets sign Levis instead of putting him directly on the active roster?
The practice squad gives New York experienced quarterback insurance without using a 53-man-roster spot. It also allows Levis to learn the offense and work with the team while Geno Smith starts and Cade Klubnik develops as the No. 2 quarterback.
