Week 1 of college football didn’t deliver a flawless performance from South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, but it did show why scouts can’t take their eyes off him. In the latest 2026 NFL mock draft, the Cleveland Browns are projected to land the 6-2, 240-pound dual-threat passer at No. 2 overall, banking on his blend of size, power, and upside.
Against Virginia Tech, Sellers gave fans the full spectrum of what makes him both thrilling and frustrating. His legs were the ultimate weapon, closing out drives with physical runs that wore down the Hokies’ defense. His cannon arm flashed on deep shots, reminding everyone that he has the raw velocity few in the college game can match. But those highlights came packaged with moments of inconsistency. His mechanics drifted. His decision-making wavered. The result was a performance that felt more promise than polish.
That’s exactly what makes Sellers such a fascinating projection. NFL evaluators see the traits of a franchise quarterback—size, athleticism, arm strength—but they also see a player who still needs to refine the details of his game. He is a Houdini act in pads, capable of escaping trouble and making plays off-script, but that improvisation can just as easily create problems as solve them.
Cleveland’s spot in this mock draft raises the intrigue even more. The Browns have invested heavily in their roster, but questions at quarterback linger. A talent like Sellers, with his ability to extend plays and take over with his physical tools, could be the kind of swing a franchise takes when it’s looking for a long-term answer.
The key word is development. Sellers doesn’t have to light up defenses every week to stay in the top tier of draft projections. With many quarterbacks around the country struggling in their openers, just holding steady was enough for him to rise. What matters most now is the growth he shows between this point and April 2026.
Sellers is the definition of a boom-or-bust prospect, but the boom potential is enormous. Few players in college football can match his ceiling if he puts it all together. The Browns may just be the team willing to bet on that upside.
Week 1 didn’t give us all the answers, but it confirmed what scouts already believed. LaNorris Sellers is raw, electric, and very much in the conversation near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft.