As the clock was winding down on every NFL team’s decision on who to release and which players to retain on their initial 53-man roster, there was suddenly a new guy listed on the roster that nobody recognized.
That name on the Cleveland Browns roster and depth chart was listed as KT Leveston. Who is that? Where did his name pop up from?
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Leveston is an offensive lineman who came from the Los Angeles Rams. He arrived in Cleveland in a trade
on August 25. In exchange, the Rams receive a 2028 seventh-round draft pick.
Leveston is 25 years old and stands 6’-4” while weighing 336 pounds. He was taken in Round 7 in the 2024 NFL draft out of Kansas State. His full name is Kaitori Leveston, Jr., but he goes by “KT.”
Who is he? What does he offer the Browns?
Beginnings
A Texas kid, Leveston grew up in Waco and attended Midway High School. He was a basketball star and also played on the football squad.
As a junior playing offensive tackle, he was named Second Team All-8-6A District and picked up First Team All-8-6A District honors as a senior, as his team played for the state championship.
Coming out of Midway, he was ranked #59 in the nation at offensive tackle.
In football, he was offered scholarships from Texas, Arizona State, Kansas State, Houston, Texas State, Colorado State, Texas Tech, New Mexico, North Texas, and Missouri. He chose Kansas State.
Redshirted in his freshman year, in his first two seasons, he started five games but played in every contest. He split time between both guard spots and at left tackle. Both years, he was named a First Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree.
Leveston started at left tackle in his junior campaign and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades and First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors. He became known as a proven run blocker as K-State was ranked #12 nationally in rushing offense.
RELATED: 2023 KANSAS STATE DEPTH CHART
He started all 13 games as a senior again at left tackle. He played 909 snaps and did not have a single penalty called as K-State was ranked the #2 offensive attack in the nation. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and was a First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer.
Leveston received a Combine invite as well as the East–West Shrine Bowl. He ended his collegiate career having started 32 of the 50 games he played in.
Get this: Leveston was only flagged for one in-play penalty over his final two seasons, a span of 1,842 offensive snaps.
His scouting report prior to the 2024 draft:
Pros
- In the run game, Leveston plays with a mean streak and does a nice job generating a push at the initial point of attack. Leveston can get outside and does a decent job landing blocks in space.
- Solid positional run blocker who flashes the nasty demeanor and killer instinct scouts covet.
- Shows excellent awareness against twists and stunts, and he has the strong, flexible core and wide base to catch and handle moving defenders.
- Fires off the snap quickly, and he shows the flexibility to get out and seal on reach blocks. He’s at his best, however, in the phone booth.
- Does a nice job on the second level, moving upfield quickly and showing the flexibility and balance to land blocks in space.
- Has the functional strength to hold up against the bull rush, and he shows exceptionally quick and precise hands.
Cons
- Needs to work on his technique in pass protection, using more consistent leverage and continuing to move his feet.
- As a pass protector, Leveston gets caught reaching and lunging when matched up against quickness.
- Has the traits to improve, but he gets impatient in his set, lunging and reaching, and generally playing with poor balance at times. Leveston is inconsistent with his kick slide.
NFL calls
Leveston was a Day 3 draft pick by the Rams in Round 7. He was picked at #254. Normally, being taken that far in the draft process is considered a deterrent to any player’s aspirations of making a final roster. But Leveston saw his draft number as a sign. Since he grew up in Texas, the Waco area code was 254.
He went to a roster that was in dire need of quality depth. Alaric Jackson was the starting LT, while Rob Havenstein started at RT, who was 32 years old. But Leveston sustained an ankle injury in a practice during training camp right before camp broke prior to Week 1. This placed him on IR, where he spent his entire rookie season.
He was having a very good camp this year when Berry traded for him. There was concern with the Browns’ offensive line not having enough offensive tackles. Besides starters Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones, Cornelius Lucas was signed during free agency to be the swing tackle but is dealing with an ankle issue himself. There are others that have played OT in the past, such as Joel Bitonio and Teven Jenkins, but the roster needed a guy who could play both guard and tackle, and Leveston fits that description.
Leveston will wear #72. His X account is @KaitoriJr, and his Instagram handle is @tht.boi.kt.
Browns coaches will marvel at Leveston’s growth in maturity and work ethic. He is a vocal and respected team leader. He is an outstanding run blocker but will need some tutelage in pass protection, especially if Cleveland places him on the outside instead of at guard.
The fact was, the Browns needed somebody to cover offensive tackle in the event of an injury to Conklin or Jones occurring. Both have been hurt repeatedly, and an insurance policy was needed. Leveston should fill that void while playing a backup guard role.
