We should have at least a decent idea about the future of the quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns following the 2025 campaign.
The Browns are hoping that one of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will pan out and become their franchise guy. But first, Cleveland will hand the football to veteran Joe Flacco to start the season.
Once the Browns are inevitably eliminated from playoff contention, Cleveland will turn to their rookies, although it remains to be seen which one will get the ball first. Gabriel will likely be that guy.
If neither one pans out, the Browns could very well be back in the market for a signal-caller in the 2026 NFL draft.
That's how the Sporting News' Anthony Licciardi sees things panning out, with the draft expert mocking South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers to the Browns with the No. 2 overall pick in 2026.
Sellers didn't change his outlook much in Week 1 against Virginia Tech. His legs were a massive weapon that helped close out the game; his elite arm strength was on full display, and everything else was a work in progress.
The flashes of nuance are tantalizing. The inconsistencies in his mechanics and decisions are maddening. Sellers' Houdini act is still the biggest question mark of the 2026 class. With many quarterbacks struggling in Week 1, the South Carolina phenom stands to gain by treading water, but it will be his development that sets him apart.
As Licciardi points out, Sellers is absolutely electric as a runner, and he possesses the kind of arm strength that makes him a top-notch prospect. However, he still has a lot of work to do before he cements himself as a top pick in next year's draft.
Lest we forget, Sellers has just one season of starting experience under his belt, so it's no surprise he's still raw and developing. If he doesn't show more consistency and improvement in the lackluster areas of his game, he'll likely stay in South Carolina another year.
After what we saw in the Gamecocks' season-opener, that looks like the most likely scenario for the talented young quarterback.
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