Brendan Sorsby Could Join NFL Later This Year Despite Gambling Case
In early-January, quarterback Brendan Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech following a stellar season at Cincinnati. But as a gambling investigation threatens to abruptly end his college career, he now has an extra option: Enter the NFL early.
Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, NFL insider Tom Pelissero suggested that Sorsby could enter the NFL Supplemental Draft in June due to his change in eligibility. Such a move would open the possibility of an NFL team using a 2027 first-round NFL Draft pick to select a quarterback who grades very strongly as a potential franchise star.
That being said, the recent revelations about Sorsby might not make the idea as appealing to teams if he had simply come out in this year's draft.
Pelissero reported that Sorsby recently checked himself into a treatment facility for gambling and is expected to remain there for approximately five weeks. He noted that Sorsby reportedly placed wagers on numerous games across his college career.
The Supplemental Draft
The NFL Supplemental Draft is a lesser-known draft held by the NFL for players who become eligible after the regular NFL Draft has already taken place. This usually happens when a college player loses eligibility due to academic issues, disciplinary reasons, or other circumstances that prevent them from returning to school. The supplemental draft gives these players a pathway into the NFL without having to wait an additional year.
Sorsby's situation would certainly qualify.
The process works differently from the main draft. Teams submit blind bids on players, specifying which round they would be willing to use. If a team wins the bid, it forfeits that same round pick in the following year's NFL Draft. Because of this cost and the uncertainty around player availability, the supplemental draft is used sparingly, and many years pass without any selections. However, it has produced notable players in the past, making it a unique but important part of the NFL's player acquisition system.
Some noteworthy players to emerge through the Supplemental Draft include Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter, Pro Bowl quarterback Bernie Kosar, All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon and current Dallas Cowboys defensive back Jalen Thompson.
Pelissero predicted that if Sorsby does, in fact, enter the NFL via the Supplemental Draft that he'll be the highest-drafted player in that draft in decades.
Over his past two seasons at Cincinnati, Sorsby went 12-12 as a starter and completed 63-percent of his passes for 5,613 yards and 45 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions. He earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.
Will Sorsby forego his NCAA return and try to give the NFL a try?
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 2:14 PM.