NFL Tells Brendan Sorsby it Won't Hold a Supplemental Draft This Year
The NFL recently sent a letter to former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby stating that there would be no supplemental draft this year.
Sorsby’s petition to join the supplemental draft was rejected by the league, which cited concerns about timing and integrity related to his gambling issues.
An attorney for the embattled quarterback said the denial of the petition violated the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
What the NFL said
The NFL stated that, under its current CBA, the league has the right to determine whether a supplemental draft should take place. There has not been one since 2019, and there were no plans to hold one this year until the league received Sorsby's application.
The letter from the NFL to Sorsby stated, “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.”
What did Sorsby do?
Sorsby was the top transfer portal player and chose Texas Tech. News eventually broke that he had placed bets on professional and college sports totaling over $90,000. He even made bets on the Indiana Hoosiers when he was a member of the team as a freshman.
The NCAA ruled Sorsby ineligible, and a Texas judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction to play for Texas Tech this season. After that, there was a ton of backlash. Two things then happened that likely swayed Sorsby to petition for a 2026 supplemental draft:
- The chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, Cody Campbell, said the quarterback would "not be part of the Texas Tech football team this fall."
- The Big 12 — Texas Tech's conference — filed a federal injunction seeking the right to use its rules to potentially discipline Sorsby.
The NFL’s issue
In the letter to Sorsby, the NFL stated that it had the full record of the NCAA investigation. The league said it had information that he had bet on his own team, which violated the league's integrity policies. The league stated that the integrity issues in the petition were significant, and they could not review them in a timely manner before a supplemental draft.
The NFL also stated in the letter that it believed Sorsby did not address why he was first ruled ineligible in the petition. Also, in the petition, Sorsby made no mention of how he would comply with NFL rules and regulations if in the league.
What’s next for the former Texas Tech quarterback?
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, has stated that he disagrees with the NFL decision and that the matter will be taken up with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). If the NFLPA sees grounds for a challenge to the decision, there would be a hearing to see if a 2026 supplemental draft would take place.
In the letter, the NFL also encouraged Sorsby to prepare for the 2027 draft.
“As Commissioner Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability," said the letter. "By all accounts, you are a talented player with the potential for future success.
"We encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.”
