The NFL has blocked Brendan Sorsby’s immediate path to the league by abruptly cancelling the 2026 supplemental draft.
The highly touted 22-year-old quarterback transferred to Texas Tech in January before controversy over his admitted gambling problem prompted him to declare for the supplemental draft. In April, Sorsby checked into a gambling addiction rehabilitation center after admitting to placing thousands of bets in violation of NCAA rules, including wagers on his own teams.
Sorsby and his attorney were informed about the cancelation of the supplemental draft in a letter that encourages the 22-year-old quarterback to instead turn his focus to the regular NFL Draft in April of 2027.
As explained by league attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. in the letter obtained by The Daily Mail, Sorsby’s petition declaring himself eligible for the 2026 supplemental draft was insufficient because it failed to properly address the reason for his NCAA ban: A ‘sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.’
Besides, as Ferazani pointed out, the NFL’s collective-bargaining agreement gives the league office the power to cancel the supplemental draft, which is something it did in both 2024 and 2025. In fact, one has to go back to 2019 to find a single player taken in the supplemental draft, which the NFL typically holds in the summer for college players who’ve been declared ineligible by the NCAA.
‘… the League retains sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year,’ he wrote. ‘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.
The NFL has blocked Brendan Sorsby’s immediate path to the league by abruptly cancelling the 2026 supplemental draft. His attorney plans to challenge the league’s decision
‘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,’ he continued. ‘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.’
Sorsby’s attorney Jeffrey Kessler told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the league’s decision against holding a supplemental draft is a violation of both ‘the CBA and the law,’ adding that they plan to ‘pursue this immediately’ with the NFL players’ union.
NFL players are required to go through the regular draft or supplemental draft but can still sign as a free agent if they go unselected in either event.
Earlier this month, Sorsby appeared ready to jump to the NFL after weeks of controversy over his 2026 eligibility.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in January on a reported multimillion-dollar NIL deal after playing the past two seasons at Big 12 rival Cincinnati. Prior to his years with the Bearcats, Sorsby was at Indiana for both 2022 and 2023.
As revealed in court testimony, Sorsby has been diagnosed with an anxiety-driven gambling addiction and has recently completed a monthlong stay at an Arizona treatment program. He entered that program after the NCAA launched an investigation into wagering allegations earlier this year.
Sorsby has admittedly placed thousands of individual bets over his career at Indiana, Cincinnati and even his brief tenure at Texas Tech.
Sorsby is considered an NFL prospect after throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions at Cincinnati in 2025. Some scouts see him as a second- or third-round pick
According to court documents, Sorsby placed at least 2,900 bets totaling over $30,000 between June 2022 and December 2023 while on the scout team at Indiana
According to court documents, Sorsby placed at least 2,900 bets totaling over $30,000 between June 2022 and December 2023 while on the scout team at Indiana. This included 40 games where he bet on the Hoosiers, but this did not involve any games where he featured or had a legitimate chance of playing, per the filing. In total, he’s admitted to placing more than $90,000 in bets.
Additionally, the NCAA alleges that Sorsby placed parlay bets involving the Indiana basketball team – including wagers ‘in favor of players on the opposing team.’
Student-athletes are prohibited from betting on any NCAA-sanctioned sport – college or professional – and could face permanent loss of eligibility if they’re found to wager on games involving their own team or another team in a different sport at their same school.
The NCAA hasn’t found evidence that Sorsby manipulated his performance, nor has there been any indication inside information was used to place these bets.
Regardless, the NCAA fought to keep Sorsby from playing football again, only to lose a key ruling last week when Texas judge Ken Curry prevented the governing body from blocking his eligibility.
Sorsby is considered an NFL prospect after throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions at Cincinnati in 2025. Scouts see the Texas native as a potential second- or third-round pick, according to multiple reports.
