The Cleveland Browns took two cracks at finding their next franchise quarterback with the draft selections of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, but one analyst believes neither one will pan out and the Browns will part ways in 2026.
Ian Ritter of Stadium Rant put out his latest 2026 mock draft and has the Browns taking South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers with the No. 2 overall pick.
Ritter rightly notes that if the Browns do finish with a bad enough record to own the No. 2 overall pick, chances are their current crop of quarterbacks, including Sanders and Gabriel, didn’t answer the bell.
“The SEC freshman of the year in 2024, dual-threat LaNorris Sellers is unstoppable when he’s playing his best ball and might have the highest ceiling of any QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft,” Ritter wrote.
“He is still raw, but the Gamecock’s captain as a true freshman possesses the blend of leadership and physical tools front offices covet around the league. If Sellers can show marked improvement in decision-making this year, he will be a top 5 pick and arguably the first quarterback taken. Picking this high, the Cleveland Browns are most likely finally moving on from Deshaun Watson’s disastrous tenure, and it’s unlikely anyone drafted in 2025 impressed too much either,” Ritter concluded.
Sellers enjoyed his first year as a starter in South Carolina last season and showed tons of promise after a rocky start.
The 19-year-old displayed his impressive arm talent en route to completing 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards, showed his explosive athleticism with 674 rushing yards, and scored 28 total touchdowns (18 passing, seven rushing).
Sellers is on a trajectory to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in 2026, assuming he actually declares for the draft, which isn’t a guarantee.
He has all the physical tools necessary to be successful at the next level, now it’s about refining his game. Footwork, accuracy, decision-making and processing are three things to keep an eye on with Sellers when it comes to his development.
If Sellers can hammer those down and continues to show his elite arm strength and athleticism with the Gamecocks, he’s going to land exactly where Ritter has him going in his mock.
The Browns are poised to have a tough season, so it’s very realistic to think they will be picking high in 2026. If so, Sellers could definitely be an option for Cleveland if he’s on the board.
