The Steelers have four quarterbacks on their roster. Their starter for 2026 is in place in Aaron Rodgers. Mason Rudolph is his backup, a proven veteran. Then there are two young guys in Will Howard and Drew Allar, two developmental pieces for Mike McCarthy and his staff to mold.
Enter Brendan Sorsby, a talented young quarterback who's entering for the NFL supplemental draft this summer and could be an option for the Steelers to add serious talent at the game's most important position.
WHO IS BRENDAN SORSBY?
Sorsby, 22, was set to start for Texas Tech this fall after transferring from Cincinnati, where he was the starter for two seasons. Prior to that, Sorsby played two seasons at Indiana. Over his four college seasons, he played in 35 games, completed 61.4% of his passes for 7,208 yards, 60 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,295 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt.
Sorsby is entering the supplemental draft after he admitted to betting on college sports. The NCAA stripped him of his eligibility after it discovered he had placed more than 9,000 bets, totaling at least $90,000, on professional and college sports while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
On April 27, Sorsby announced through Texas Tech he was taking a leave of absence and entering residential rehab for a gambling addiction. On the same day, reports circulated of the NCAA's investigation into whether Sorsby placed bets on the Hoosiers while enrolled at Indiana in 2022.
After his eligibility was stripped, Sorsby filed an injunction against the NCAA through a local district court to try and regain his eligibility. The lawsuit came with a detailed affidavit about Sorsby's betting habits, where he admitted to making 40 wagers on the Hoosiers while he was enrolled there in 2022 (though none on games he played in).
Much to the surprise of everyone, on June 8, Judge Ken Curry granted Sorsby's injunction -- making him eligible to play for Texas Tech in 2026 -- and unilaterally imposed a two-game suspension. This set the college football world ablaze as many schools vehemently spoke out against the ruling, with some threatening to boycott games against Texas Tech if Sorsby were to remain eligible.
All of that became moot when NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday night of Sorsby's intention to apply for entry into the supplemental draft. The NFL must grant him eligibility to be selected, and as of Tuesday, there is no update on whether or not the league would grant him said eligibility. Should Sorsby be granted eligibility for the supplemental draft, he would forfeit his college eligibility.
WHAT IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT?
First held in 1977, the supplemental draft is an alternate summer draft for college players who missed the filing deadline for the NFL Draft held every April.
The order for the supplemental draft is very different from the NFL Draft, as is the process of selecting players. The supplemental draft order is divided into three groups:
• Teams with six or fewer wins the previous season
• The remaining non-playoff teams
• The 14 playoff teams
The order within each group is randomly selected through a weighted lottery in which the previous season's standings heavily impact each team's chances. If a team is interested in selecting a player, it bids one of its draft picks for the following year on that player. The team that bids the highest pick is awarded that player and subsequently forfeits that pick in the following year's NFL Draft.
For example, if the Steelers wanted to bid on Sorsby, they would still be further down the pecking order as they'd be in the third group among the 14 playoff teams. However, they could outbid every other team, even the ones in the first two groups. Let's say they bid their 2027 third-round pick on him. If no other team bid a first-, second- or third-round pick, Sorsby would be granted to the Steelers. However, if another team bid a third-round pick on Sorsby, he would go to the team that finished highest in the lottery order among those teams. So, if a team in the first two groups also submitted a third-round pick, Sorsby would go to that team.
The supplemental draft is not a common tool used by teams to acquire talent, which is why it's not often talked about. The NFL only holds a supplemental draft when approved prospects are available, which hasn't happened since 2023. And that year, there were just two players available -- Jackson State's Malachi Wideman and Purdue's Milton Wright -- and neither was selected. The last player to be selected in the supplemental draft was defensive back Jalen Thompson, taken by the Cardinals in 2019.
That being said, there are still some notable players who have been selected in the supplemental draft. The Browns used a second-round pick to select Josh Gordon in 2012, and the Raiders used a third-round pick to select Terrelle Pryor in 2011. The most notable selection is Cris Carter, who was selected by the Eagles in 1987 using a fourth-round pick.
WHY SHOULD THE STEELERS CONSIDER SORSBY?
Sorsby is a lightning rod for controversy right now. Many in the college football world have backed the NCAA in its fight against keeping Sorsby off the field. It's rare for public opinion to side with a governing body such as the NCAA.
That just goes to show what Sorsby admitted to doing doesn't sit well with a lot of people. It's one thing to bet on sports while playing, it's something else entirely to bet on your own team while you're on the roster. Even though Sorsby did not play in the games on which he wagered, it's still a cardinal sin in the eyes of many.
That being said, acquiring legitimate first-round talent at quarterback isn't easy. When the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger, they happened to have a bad season at the perfect time, getting the 11th overall pick in an all-time class for quarterbacks -- one that could produce as many as three Hall of Famers, Roethlisberger included. To acquire such talent at quarterback, teams either have to be bad enough to have a high enough pick at the right time or have the necessary draft capital to make an aggressive move up the board to go get one in a quarterback-rich draft, such as when the Chiefs traded up 17 spots to select Patrick Mahomes in 2017.
While the Steelers have two young quarterbacks in Howard and Allar, considering Sorsby would be understandable. According to reports, there are NFL teams that had a first-round grade on Sorsby. He has good size at 6-3 and 235 pounds and is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback. He has a great arm to make necessary throws at the NFL level but also possesses the ability to extend plays outside the pocket and do damage with his arm or legs. He's not a finished product, as he bails from clean pockets too quickly instead of letting plays develop -- a trait common among young quarterbacks.
The Steelers have a significant decision to make regarding whether they want to bid on Sorsby, should he be granted eligibility for the supplemental draft. The team isn't stocked with a ton of draft capital in the 2027 NFL Draft, which is expected to be a strong class for quarterbacks. So, making a move to go up in the first round to get a guy they like might be impossible. The Steelers could circumvent that by selecting Sorsby this summer if they believe he's the type of quarterback you build a franchise around.
Of course, the connection to gambling is a huge hurdle in this whole equation. For some franchises, it's an immediate nonstarter, no matter how talented a player is. At the same time, when there's potential to add a franchise-type quarterback and the history of the game proves it's pretty much a requirement to have that type of quarterback to compete for Super Bowls, it's understandable for consideration.
THE ASYLUM
Sorsby's a risky bet, but one to consider?
The Steelers have four quarterbacks on their roster. Their starter for 2026 is in place in Aaron Rodgers. Mason Rudolph is his backup, a proven veteran. Then there are two young guys in Will Howard and Drew Allar, two developmental pieces for Mike McCarthy and his staff to mold.
Enter Brendan Sorsby, a talented young quarterback who's entering for the NFL supplemental draft this summer and could be an option for the Steelers to add serious talent at the game's most important position.
WHO IS BRENDAN SORSBY?
Sorsby, 22, was set to start for Texas Tech this fall after transferring from Cincinnati, where he was the starter for two seasons. Prior to that, Sorsby played two seasons at Indiana. Over his four college seasons, he played in 35 games, completed 61.4% of his passes for 7,208 yards, 60 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,295 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt.
Sorsby is entering the supplemental draft after he admitted to betting on college sports. The NCAA stripped him of his eligibility after it discovered he had placed more than 9,000 bets, totaling at least $90,000, on professional and college sports while enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
On April 27, Sorsby announced through Texas Tech he was taking a leave of absence and entering residential rehab for a gambling addiction. On the same day, reports circulated of the NCAA's investigation into whether Sorsby placed bets on the Hoosiers while enrolled at Indiana in 2022.
After his eligibility was stripped, Sorsby filed an injunction against the NCAA through a local district court to try and regain his eligibility. The lawsuit came with a detailed affidavit about Sorsby's betting habits, where he admitted to making 40 wagers on the Hoosiers while he was enrolled there in 2022 (though none on games he played in).
Much to the surprise of everyone, on June 8, Judge Ken Curry granted Sorsby's injunction -- making him eligible to play for Texas Tech in 2026 -- and unilaterally imposed a two-game suspension. This set the college football world ablaze as many schools vehemently spoke out against the ruling, with some threatening to boycott games against Texas Tech if Sorsby were to remain eligible.
All of that became moot when NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday night of Sorsby's intention to apply for entry into the supplemental draft. The NFL must grant him eligibility to be selected, and as of Tuesday, there is no update on whether or not the league would grant him said eligibility. Should Sorsby be granted eligibility for the supplemental draft, he would forfeit his college eligibility.
WHAT IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT?
First held in 1977, the supplemental draft is an alternate summer draft for college players who missed the filing deadline for the NFL Draft held every April.
The order for the supplemental draft is very different from the NFL Draft, as is the process of selecting players. The supplemental draft order is divided into three groups:
• Teams with six or fewer wins the previous season
• The remaining non-playoff teams
• The 14 playoff teams
The order within each group is randomly selected through a weighted lottery in which the previous season's standings heavily impact each team's chances. If a team is interested in selecting a player, it bids one of its draft picks for the following year on that player. The team that bids the highest pick is awarded that player and subsequently forfeits that pick in the following year's NFL Draft.
For example, if the Steelers wanted to bid on Sorsby, they would still be further down the pecking order as they'd be in the third group among the 14 playoff teams. However, they could outbid every other team, even the ones in the first two groups. Let's say they bid their 2027 third-round pick on him. If no other team bid a first-, second- or third-round pick, Sorsby would be granted to the Steelers. However, if another team bid a third-round pick on Sorsby, he would go to the team that finished highest in the lottery order among those teams. So, if a team in the first two groups also submitted a third-round pick, Sorsby would go to that team.
The supplemental draft is not a common tool used by teams to acquire talent, which is why it's not often talked about. The NFL only holds a supplemental draft when approved prospects are available, which hasn't happened since 2023. And that year, there were just two players available -- Jackson State's Malachi Wideman and Purdue's Milton Wright -- and neither was selected. The last player to be selected in the supplemental draft was defensive back Jalen Thompson, taken by the Cardinals in 2019.
That being said, there are still some notable players who have been selected in the supplemental draft. The Browns used a second-round pick to select Josh Gordon in 2012, and the Raiders used a third-round pick to select Terrelle Pryor in 2011. The most notable selection is Cris Carter, who was selected by the Eagles in 1987 using a fourth-round pick.
WHY SHOULD THE STEELERS CONSIDER SORSBY?
Sorsby is a lightning rod for controversy right now. Many in the college football world have backed the NCAA in its fight against keeping Sorsby off the field. It's rare for public opinion to side with a governing body such as the NCAA.
That just goes to show what Sorsby admitted to doing doesn't sit well with a lot of people. It's one thing to bet on sports while playing, it's something else entirely to bet on your own team while you're on the roster. Even though Sorsby did not play in the games on which he wagered, it's still a cardinal sin in the eyes of many.
That being said, acquiring legitimate first-round talent at quarterback isn't easy. When the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger, they happened to have a bad season at the perfect time, getting the 11th overall pick in an all-time class for quarterbacks -- one that could produce as many as three Hall of Famers, Roethlisberger included. To acquire such talent at quarterback, teams either have to be bad enough to have a high enough pick at the right time or have the necessary draft capital to make an aggressive move up the board to go get one in a quarterback-rich draft, such as when the Chiefs traded up 17 spots to select Patrick Mahomes in 2017.
While the Steelers have two young quarterbacks in Howard and Allar, considering Sorsby would be understandable. According to reports, there are NFL teams that had a first-round grade on Sorsby. He has good size at 6-3 and 235 pounds and is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback. He has a great arm to make necessary throws at the NFL level but also possesses the ability to extend plays outside the pocket and do damage with his arm or legs. He's not a finished product, as he bails from clean pockets too quickly instead of letting plays develop -- a trait common among young quarterbacks.
The Steelers have a significant decision to make regarding whether they want to bid on Sorsby, should he be granted eligibility for the supplemental draft. The team isn't stocked with a ton of draft capital in the 2027 NFL Draft, which is expected to be a strong class for quarterbacks. So, making a move to go up in the first round to get a guy they like might be impossible. The Steelers could circumvent that by selecting Sorsby this summer if they believe he's the type of quarterback you build a franchise around.
Of course, the connection to gambling is a huge hurdle in this whole equation. For some franchises, it's an immediate nonstarter, no matter how talented a player is. At the same time, when there's potential to add a franchise-type quarterback and the history of the game proves it's pretty much a requirement to have that type of quarterback to compete for Super Bowls, it's understandable for consideration.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!