The Brendan Sorsby saga took another interesting turn on Tuesday with the NFL announcing it won’t hold a supplemental draft this year. The Texas Tech quarterback had applied for the draft after the NCAA ruled him ineligible to play next season due to gambling issues.
The move means Sorsby will have to wait for next year’s NFL draft for a chance to play in the league.
The NFL announced the move in a letter to Sorsby and to all 32 teams. He was the only player to apply for the draft. The letter alluded to his gambling exploits and battle with the NCAA.
“Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, the League retains sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year,” NFL Management Council general counsel Lawrence Ferazani Jr. wrote in the letter.
“The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry.
“Your Petition – filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions – does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans. The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented.”
Attorney Vows Appeal To NFLPA
The Sorsby saga has gripped the sports world over the last two months. The quarterback admitted to making thousands of bets while at Indiana University, including at least 40 on his own team while with the Hoosiers.
After transferring to Texas Tech for the upcoming season, Sorsby announced in May that he was entering treatment for gambling addiction. The NCAA later ruled the quarterback ineligible for violating gambling rules.
Despite winning a temporary injunction against the NCAA in court, Sorsby announced last week that he would forgo college athletics and move on to the NFL. That followed several NCAA teams threatening to boycott playing the Red Raiders over game integrity concerns and the Big 12 considering ruling Sorsby ineligible.
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told Yahoo Sports that the NFL’s ruling is a violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, and he planned to appeal to the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Sorsby’s behalf.
“In late April, we inquired with the NFL about the process for gaining entry into the supplemental draft,” Kessler said. “The response from the league was that all that was required was a short application, which needed to be submitted prior to June 22.
“At no point did the NFL indicate that it would need or want to review anything other than the application itself or that submitting the application at or close to the deadline would have any impact on the NFL’s consideration.”
Any appeal would be an uphill battle. The NFL is not required to hold a supplemental draft. In fact, it hasn’t held one in three years.
Where Does Sorsby Go From Here?
With the league not running the supplemental draft, Sorsby’s options to play football this year now seem limited. He could seek entry into the Canadian Football League, following the lead of QBs Warren Moon and Doug Flutie, who found success playing north of the border before enjoying productive NFL careers.
The CFL, however, is already in the fourth week of its season.
The United Football League wrapped up its 2026 season recently. Sorsby could potentially join the league in 2027 while awaiting the NFL draft. Billionaire entrepreneur Mike Repole, a co-owner of the UFL, urged Sorsby to consider that option, potentially playing for the Dallas Renegades.
Welcome to the @TheUFL , Brendan Sorsby.
The UFL is the league of opportunity.
We created our Regional Player Initiative to keep great players closer to home, closer to their fans, and on the field.
Let’s do this!!!!!
Brendan Sorsby, welcome to the @UFLRenegades.
Have your… https://t.co/qz1cyuMtfu pic.twitter.com/tQkU2yPSJc
— Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) June 23, 2026
Playing for Texas Tech could still be an option, but it would be a public relations disaster for the university. The temporary restraining order allows Sorsby to play after sitting out the first two games of the season. That move, however, could re-spark the legal wrangling with the Big 12 and possibly bring about boycotts from opponents.
He could also choose to sit out the season and train for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Prior to the NFL’s decision on the supplemental draft, Kalshi offered a market on which team would select the 22-year-old quarterback before Sept. 15. The New Orleans Saints were the favorite at 11%. But all positions in the market, which had seen more than $154,000 in trading volume by Wednesday, now appear to be losses.
