Show summary Hide summary
Texas Tech and quarterback Brendan Sorsby have agreed to part ways, clearing the way for the 22-year-old to seek entry into the NFL’s supplemental draft. If the league approves his application — a decision expected in the coming weeks — the NFL would stage its first supplemental draft since 2019, with clubs able to submit bids this July.
The supplemental process matters because it forces teams to weigh immediate needs against future draft capital: the winning club forfeits the corresponding pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Historically, franchises have been cautious about spending premium selections in that forum — the highest-profile recent success was the Cleveland Browns’ second-round bid for Josh Gordon in 2012 — and no team has used a first-round pick in the supplemental draft since 1992.
What complicates Sorsby’s market is an ongoing sports-betting controversy that could dampen interest and push his price down. Most evaluations project him as a potential second-round talent at best, but off-field concerns may persuade clubs to offer later-round compensation or pass entirely.
US economy posts 2.1% Q1 growth after government revises estimate
Kyle Whittingham eyes first national title at Michigan
How the supplemental draft works
The July event is conducted as a blind-bid system: teams submit the round they would use to claim a player, and the highest bid wins. That team then loses the corresponding same-round pick in the next regular draft. Because bids are confidential and the pool of candidates is small, clubs weigh each submission carefully — especially when a player carries character questions.
- New York Jets: Persistent uncertainty at quarterback and a roster built to win now make the Jets an obvious candidate to take a flier. They hold significant future draft capital, which would let them bid without mortgageing the franchise’s long-term plan.
- Cleveland Browns: Familiarity with the supplemental route gives Cleveland institutional precedent; the Browns have used a second-round pick there before and might be willing to gamble on upside if they value Sorsby’s traits as a developmental option or short-term starter.
- Carolina Panthers: A club still searching for a durable, long-term solution under center could view Sorsby as a low-risk, potentially high-reward target, especially if he falls to a mid-round valuation because of off-field issues.
One team that likely won’t bite
Not every roster makes sense as a landing spot. Consider the Kansas City Chiefs: with Patrick Mahomes firmly established and the franchise deeply invested in continuity at quarterback, sacrificing future draft currency for a developmental or backup option would be an unlikely move. Clubs with settled starters or limited roster flexibility generally avoid the supplemental market.
There are additional nuances teams will evaluate: medical checks, interviews, and how Sorsby would fit into each club’s offensive system. Any team that wins him in July must be confident the upside outweighs the cost of surrendering a pick in the 2027 draft and the potential public-relations fallout tied to the controversy.
Next milestones to watch: the NFL’s ruling on Sorsby’s eligibility and, if approved, which clubs submit bids and at what levels. That sequence will reveal whether teams view him as a worthy use of mid-round capital or a player whose off-field issues make him too risky for the supplemental market.
