The too long, too stupid saga of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is finally over. Yesterday, it was reported that he plans to apply for the NFL’s Supplemental Draft. After placing over 9,000 bets on college and pro sports, some placed on his own teams, over four years, the NCAA had terminated his eligibility. He didn’t like that so he appealed the decision in federal court. Last week, somehow, an actual judge ignored all that was obvious and granted a preliminary injunction that prevented the NCAA from ending the eligibility of a player that had clearly broken the rules so many times. It was an astonishing decision that threw college football, common sense, and the law into chaos. Sorsby’s flip to entering the Supplemental Draft came on a day that included a flurry of legal activity. The Big 12 filed for a federal injunction for the right to potentially discipline Sorsby under its rules. The NCAA asked an appeals court for an expedited resolution to the local case, requesting a decision on Sorsby’s eligibility to be made by the start of the football season. All of that legal action faded away after the quarterback’s change of mind. This whole ordeal was so ludicrous. You can’t bet on the sport you play! He placed 9,000 bets! Sorsby broke a clearly stated rule so many times. It was unbelievable that he even tried to fight the much-deserved punishment. It’s over now. Entering the Supplemental Draft was always the best option. Realizing a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL is a cushy Plan B after losing your college eligibility.
The Supplemental Draft. It’s a thing.
For those that are a little rusty on some of the particulars of the NFL's Supplemental Draft here's some help from The Athletic:
What is the supplemental draft?
The supplemental draft, which is held each summer, was installed in 1977 as an option for draft-eligible players who did not declare for the regular NFL Draft. Normally, players who declare for the supplemental draft do so because of unexpected eligibility issues in college (academic or discipline).
The most noteworthy players who entered the NFL via the supplemental draft include Bernie Kosar (1985), Cris Carter (1987) and, most recently, Josh Gordon (2012). Since 1977, 45 players have been selected in the supplemental draft.
The draft order for the supplemental draft is determined via a lottery system based on last season’s win-loss records. The draft order is divided into three groups: 1) teams with six or fewer wins 2) the rest of the non-playoff teams and 3) the 12 playoff teams. The order of each group is randomly selected. If a team is interested in drafting a prospect, they place a bid on that player in a certain round. If multiple teams submit bids on a player in the same round, the team picking first in the order is awarded the player.
Once a team drafts a player in the supplemental draft, it must forfeit its pick in that round in the following NFL Draft.
It’s been a while since the Supplemental Draft included a player with legitimate NFL potential. Current Dallas Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2019 Supplemental Draft. Before that, you’d have to go back to the Cleveland Browns selecting receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the 2012 Supplemental Draft. Brendan Sorsby will be drafted. How high will he be drafted? Some talent evaluators have said that he would’ve challenged Ty Simpson for QB2 in last April’s “regular” draft. A strong season at Texas Tech this fall and Sorsby would’ve been in the first-round mix of a strong quarterback draft in next April’s regular draft. Even if his off-field issues knock him a bit, Sorsby should get claimed in the second round. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if a team positioned late in the first round throws in a claim. The Los Angeles Rams could easily have been that team if they hadn’t taken Simpson. Wait! Scratch that. They don’t have a 2027 first-round pick. Thanks to the Brendan Sorsby saga, the 2026 Supplemental Draft will be a thing.
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