A look at the state’s potential draft picks and free agents

Connecticut’s Will Levis is expected to have his NFL future decided on Thursday night, likely fairly early.

The 2023 NFL Draft starts with the first round at 8 p.m., Thursday. Second and third rounds will be held on Friday starting at 7 p.m., with the fourth-seventh rounds beginning at noon, Saturday.

The draft, being held at Union Station Kansas City, Missouri, will air on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.

Levis is the talk of the town for Connecticut, with some mock drafts having him being selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall pick.

Luke Schoonmaker, a Michigan tight end who played for Hamden Hall, is also expected to be selected in the draft, toward the middle rounds.

After those two, there are several other players with state ties who could be picked or later signed as free agents.

Here’s a rundown of Connecticut connections among draft-eligible players:

Thursday, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN, NFL)

fall, he had 35 receptions for 418 yards and three TDs, earning his second AllBig 10 selection. He’s ranked among the top eight tight ends in the draft and could be drafted as early as the third round. No matter where he is possibly selected, he would become Hamden Hall’s first player to be taken in the NFL Draft. He “will eventually be a plus starter,” according to the NFL Prospect Guide.

OTHERS ON THE RADAR

The Chargers’ starter for two seasons, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Degenhardt passed for 3,907 yards and 43 TDs and rushed for 19 touchdowns in 21 games.

LB Chiz Umunuakwe, Central Connecticut: The 235-pound linebacker was named the NEC’s Defensive Player of the Year after leading CCSU with 94 tackles.

DT Adam Raine, Yale: The 6-foot-4, 306-pound lineman from Basingstoke, England racked up 43 tackles in 10 games for Yale’s defense.