NFL cancels 2026 supplemental draft, blocking Sorsby’s entry amid gambling scandal
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s path to the NFL is effectively halted after the league declined to hold the supplemental draft, a decision his legal team has vowed to challenge.
The National Football League has confirmed it will not conduct a supplemental draft in 2026, a move that effectively bars Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby from entering the league via that mechanism this season. The decision follows Sorsby’s admission to placing over 40 bets on college and professional sports, with a total value exceeding $90,000, which led to his permanent ineligibility by the NCAA.
League officials cited the potential for distraction to teams during the start of training camp and concerns regarding game integrity as primary reasons for cancelling the draft. An NFL source told ESPN that Sorsby’s application carried significant issues, noting that the late filing was perceived as an avoidance of the distraction caused by his own timing. The league has not held a supplemental draft since 2019.
The cancellation is permitted under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which grants the league discretion in managing player entry protocols. In a letter obtained by ESPN, the NFL Management Council’s general counsel, Larry Ferazani, stated that Sorsby’s petition was filed three business days after the deadline and lacked supporting documentation. The letter noted that Sorsby sought to avoid NCAA sanctions through litigation before abandoning those efforts to declare for the supplemental draft.
Sorsby was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA in May 2026 due to a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during his collegiate career at three different universities. The NFL letter highlighted that Sorsby’s petition provided no information regarding the basis for the NCAA’s decision and failed to demonstrate accountability for his conduct or indicate how he would adhere to league rules governing competition integrity.
Sorsby’s legal team, led by attorney Jeffrey Kessler, has stated they will challenge the decision as a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and relevant laws. Kessler told ESPN that the NFL’s refusal to hold the draft is unlawful and confirmed they would pursue the matter immediately with the NFL Players Association. Sorsby, who was the No. 1 player in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, may now be eligible to play in the Canadian Football League.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport contributed to the reporting on this story.
