With the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Justin Fields, it would not be at all shocking to see the New York Jets looking for a franchise signal-caller in 2026.
Fields has yet to cement himself as a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. He has no doubt shown flashes over four years but has failed to be consistent enough during his stops in Pittsburgh and Chicago to be considered a sure thing.
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson envisions the Jets looking for their franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft.
Wilson predicted the Jets will trade up with the Philadelphia Eagles to the No. 32 pick in order to acquire South Carolina quarterback, LaNorris Sellers. The Jets’ second-round pick was included in the trade prediction.
“Thick, physical, athlete who can win with his feet and also has a huge arm … Sellers is just incredibly raw,” Wilson wrote. “That said, there was a reason that every SEC edge rusher I spoke to at the combine earlier this year described Sellers as the toughest QB they faced.
“I got “Baby Cam (Newton)” a lot as a descriptor, and when you watch Sellers play, it’s easy to see why,” Wilson added. “He does a lot of things really well; he just needs to play with more consistency, which will come with experience. He has the talent to be the No. 1 player in most draft classes.”
Sellers has all the makings of a star at the next level with his size, arm talent and elite athleticism that makes him a dynamic playmaker with the football.
As Wilson notes, becoming more consistent will be the difference between Sellers being a top-flight prospect and someone who goes in the middle-to-late rounds. Thankfully, Sellers will have at least one more year to improve.
Sellers has thrown for 2,620 yards, rushed for 725 yards, and scored 28 touchdowns over two years at South Carolina. However, most of that production came in 2024, which was his first year as a starter.
Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season. He also added 674 yards on the ground and another seven scores.
If he continues at his current trajectory, the Jets might not be able to nab Sellers at the end of the first round. Luckily, New York should be picking pretty high next year, so Sellers could be an option for the Jets somewhere in the top five or 10.
