Biggest takeaway: I was blown away by Sellers’ lower-body strength to shrug off defensive linemen inside the pocket. He has some incredible escapes because of his quickness, but it was his ability to pull through tackles or absorb contact and deliver the ball that stood out the most during my study. There are some similarities to a young Ben Roethlisberger in that regard. His lower-body power/strength also shows up when he gets into the open field. Second- and third-level defenders really struggle to get him on the ground.
This type of speed/power combination is usually reserved for athlete-only quarterbacks. That’s what makes Sellers so special. He can operate as a traditional pocket passer and unleash those physical tools when needed. I’ve seen some people compare him to Anthony Richardson, but I don’t see it that way. He’s far more advanced in his footwork and feel as a pocket passer.
He reminds me of: As I mentioned earlier, there are some elements to his game that remind me of Big Ben and I see a little bit of Josh Allen, as well. However, the closest comparison I came away with is Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Minnesota Vikings during his 11 NFL seasons. Before he suffered injuries at the pro level, Culpepper was an outstanding athlete with the frame/build of an outside linebacker. He could function in the pure dropback game, but if pressured, he could buy time or take off and generate explosive plays. There wasn’t any panic in his game and he was very difficult to get on the ground. Sellers still has some development ahead of him, but it’s easy to see why NFL evaluators are already buzzing about his potential at the next level.
Numbers to know: Sellers led all FBS quarterbacks in missed tackles forced (33) and yards after contact (359) from Week 9 on last season, per PFF. Eighteen of those missed tackles forced came in South Carolina’s win over Clemson, a single-game record for a QB in the PFF College era (since 2014).