Draft analysts already keying in on high-ceiling prospect for Raiders in 2026

While the 2025 NFL Draft haul for the Las Vegas Raiders was widely praised for attacking key positions, some expressed remaining concerns about the team’s long-term outlook at quarterback.

Despite being linked to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders multiple times throughout the season and draft process, the Raiders chose to not draft him. They waited until the sixth round to draft two FCS quarterbacks in Montana State’s Tommy Mellott and North Dakota State’s Cam Miller, but Mellott is expected to convert to wide receiver to better take advantage of his athleticism. The Raiders do have Geno Smith to keep them afloat for the 2025 season, but he is 35 years old and his contract extension is built in with a potential out after 2026.

With the Raiders still needing an answer at quarterback for the future, draft analysts are already predicting that the team makes their move on a much stronger quarterback crop in 2026.

One prospect is already starting to make sense for the Raiders in the eyes of analysts.

The 2026 NFL Draft is over 10 months away, but the Raiders are already being linked heavily to South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“It’s not a bad idea for Las Vegas to go the Jordan Love route in 2026,” wrote Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings, who mocked Sellers to the Raiders with the seventh overall pick.

“An uncommon talent like LaNorris Sellers, in particular, could be the ideal developmental target for Pete Carroll and John Spytek. At 6’3″, 240 pounds, with 99th-percentile acceleration and cutting flexibility, Sellers is an unnatural creator, and his arm is live.”

In his first year as South Carolina’s starting quarterback, Sellers showcased why the hype surrounding him was so high.

In 2024, Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also added to the Gamecocks offense with his legs, running for 674 yards and seven touchdowns. His dual-threat ability and upside made him the winner of the SEC Freshman of the Year award, beating out the likes of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart for the award.

Despite the success, NBC Sports’ Eric Froton added that there is still room for Sellers to grow.

Sellers (6-3, 242 pounds) has the prototype dimensions and arm strength NFL franchises covet in their QB1,” wrote Froton, who also has the Raiders drafting Sellers at pick number seven. “He got acclimated to the college game in his first season as a starter, completing 65% of his passes while holding onto the ball for an average of 3.30 seconds per pass, which needs to come down. All the tools are in place for Sellers to emerge in Year 3.”

Depending on how both the Raiders and Sellers perform this season, the two sides could end up making this early pairing a reality.