South Carolina quarterback mocked to Cleveland Browns in 2026 NFL Draft first round

South Carolina has several big-time talents on its roster who could be first rounders in the next two NFL Drafts. One of these players is redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

In the latest NFL Draft mock from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner, Sellers will come off the board extremely early in the 2026 draft. According to Baumgardner, the Gamecock star could be the No. 6 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns. He also called Sellers the “most physically impressive quarterback in the class” and contended that No. 16 could be the first pick if things go well for him the rest of this season.

If Baumgardner’s projection holds, Sellers will be the second quarterback off the board. Indiana Hoosiers signal-caller Fernando Mendoza is the first, slotting in as the second pick of his mock draft. Also of note to USC fans, he has Mendoza going to the New Orleans Saints. Former Gamecock Spencer Rattler is the starting quarterback in New Orleans.

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Cleveland drafted two quarterbacks in 2025, picking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. However, many around the NFL believe that another bad season for the Browns (which would have to happen to earn the sixth pick) could lead to the team picking a quarterback early next spring.

Sellers, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is a candidate for the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Other NFL Draft names (like ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Field Yates) have made recent predictions for him to be the top quarterback selected.

South Carolina and Sellers will not play this weekend thanks to an open date. The Gamecocks will return to action the following Saturday with a road contest against LSU.

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