What is the NFL supplemental draft and where could Sorsby go?

The Brendan Sorsby saga took another major turn Monday, as the Texas Tech quarterback effectively threw in the towel on the legal battle over his college eligibility.

Sorsby faced a permanent NCAA ban for gambling on sports, including bets on his own team while at Indiana. However, a judge recently granted him a temporary injunction, restoring his eligibility. The decision sparked significant backlash, with multiple schools banning their athletics programs from scheduling games against Texas Tech, and the Big 12 filing a lawsuit seeking its own punishment against Sorsby.

Seemingly aware that the temporary injunction may no longer be enough to get him on the field in Lubbock this fall, Sorsby is now reportedly planning to withdraw his lawsuit against the NCAA and enter the NFL supplemental draft.

What does it all mean? Let's break it down.

What is the supplemental draft?

First held in 1977, the supplemental draft provides a secondary pathway to the NFL for college prospects who missed the April deadline to apply for the annual draft. These are typically players who intended to play college football in the upcoming season but later lost their eligibility.

So, why don't we hear about it all that much? Well, the NFL only holds a supplemental draft when there are eligible players, which hasn't happened since 2023. In fact, no player has even been selected in the supplemental draft since 2019, and only six players have been picked this way in the last 15 years.

Josh Gordon and Terrelle Pryor are the two most notable selections from that period. Gordon entered the 2012 supplemental draft after a failed marijuana test at Baylor in 2011 resulted in an indefinite suspension and a transfer to Utah. Pryor withdrew from Ohio State in 2011 after the NCAA suspended him and four teammates for five games for selling team memorabilia. He later became eligible for the supplemental draft when the school banned him from all contact with the football program.

NFL clubs interested in an eligible player can submit blind bids with one of their draft picks for the following year. A weighted lottery determines the selection order within three different tiers of teams:

• Tier 1: Teams with six or fewer wins
• Tier 2: Non-playoff teams with more than six wins
• Tier 3: Playoff teams

Is Sorsby eligible?

Probably, but it might be more complicated than other cases.

The NFL would undoubtedly love the idea of spicing up the typically uneventful summer months with headlines about teams bidding on a legitimate quarterback prospect. As to why he may suddenly be available to them? Not so much.

Players caught betting on NFL games have received a minimum one-year ban. Anyone gambling on their own team's games will be suspended for at least two years, per a 2023 league policy update.

Could the NFL try to make a statement by outright denying him entry into the supplemental draft? It's possible. Or perhaps he gets the Pryor treatment, having to accept a suspension to begin his pro career. Either way, the league will first need to grant him eligibility before franchises start entertaining the idea of a big summer move.

What's he worth?

You're going to hear a lot of buzz about personnel evaluators seeing Sorsby as a first-round talent. Perhaps we shouldn't rule anything out, as there are more than enough clubs desperately in need of a young franchise quarterback. Still, it's tough to imagine anyone spending that kind of draft capital here. A second-rounder might even be a little rich.

That's not to say Sorsby isn't an intriguing prospect. He's got plenty of arm talent, generating easy velocity and demonstrating the touch to layer throws over underneath defenders. He's also an excellent athlete for his size. That combination of traits, along with a feel for extending plays and creating off script, certainly offers the upside of an impact starter at the next level.

But his mechanics and footwork can get him into trouble when it comes to delivering a consistently accurate ball. He'll also have to improve his processing and decision-making to thrive against NFL defenses, particularly when facing pressure.

If everything clicks, Sorsby might have some Jordan Love to his game. As was the case with the Packers quarterback, Sorsby is probably the type of player who could benefit from taking some time to refine a raw skill set at the next level. Factor in the risk that comes with his history, and teams will likely be hesitant to part with a premium pick from a 2027 draft that figures to be headlined by names like Arch Manning and Dante Moore.

All things considered, I think the third round might be as high as the most interested teams would be willing to go. I'd also expect several bids to arrive a round or two later.

Who might be interested?

The Jets don't have to force it in their search for a franchise quarterback. With three first-round picks in a loaded 2027 draft, they've got all the capital they need to move around the board and get their guy. New York is almost certainly content to have Geno Smith start this year under center before addressing the position then. But there isn't a whole lot of downside in taking mid-round shots on quarterbacks. If the Jets happen to strike gold, they could use all those picks to load up the rest of the roster.

We already know Deshaun Watson isn't the long-term answer in Cleveland and that the Browns are simply biding their time until they can get out from under his albatross contract. Shedeur Sanders still has a chance to establish himself as the long-term starter, but his rookie season didn't exactly offer many reasons for optimism. Sorsby's physical skills could give him the most upside of anyone in a crowded Browns quarterback room. Armed with three fourth-round picks in 2027, Cleveland can afford to take a swing.

The Cardinals liked Carson Beck enough to select him in the third round of April's draft. That probably means they're planning to see if he can push Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. I'd argue they should be intrigued about adding a more gifted passer (and athlete) at a similar cost. If neither Beck nor Sorsby shows anything this season, odds are that Arizona will still be in position to draft a top quarterback in the first round next spring.

Kevin Stefanski will need a quarterback if his second head coaching stint is to work out any better than the first. Tua Tagovailoa, released by the Dolphins despite being owed $54 million in guarantees, probably isn't that guy. And although we can't yet rule out Michael Penix Jr., a frustrating sophomore season that ended in another major knee injury should have the Falcons looking at the position with an open mind. Getting Sorsby in the building for a mid-round pick could end up looking like a savvy move if the forever-mediocre NFC South helps push Atlanta out of the range for a top quarterback in next year's draft.

The Dolphins made a big-money commitment to Malik Willis this offseason. And if we're being realistic, the roster teardown probably has them entering the 2026 campaign as the front-runner to earn the No. 1 overall pick. While those factors might lead Miami to pass on Sorsby, is this team really in a position to be turning down these kinds of high-value swings? Throw in a fourth-round pick and see what happens.

I'm lower than most on the Steelers heading into this season. With Aaron Rodgers nearing the end and Mike Tomlin no longer in the building, this might be the year Pittsburgh finally bottoms out and is forced to accept a rebuild. However, that's surely not the way the Steelers are approaching things, and they could see Sorsby as their best option to find another young passer. Pairing Sorsby with third-round rookie Drew Allar would create a fascinating combination of talented but raw quarterback prospects.

The Bucs are the most interesting option on this list. Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract and has set a training-camp deadline to negotiate a new deal. After a disappointing finish to the 2025 campaign, Tampa Bay can't be eager to pay him upwards of $45 million per year. Why not let him play out the season, see if he can rebound, and bring in a young player to the building as a potential succession plan? Not having a monster quarterback contract on the books would go a long way toward allowing the Bucs to keep an impressive roster together long term.