NFL Declines Supplemental Draft, Rejects Brendan Sorsby’s Petition
The league cited timing and integrity concerns, while Sorsby's attorney said the decision violates the collective bargaining agreement.
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not enter the NFL through a supplemental draft after the league elected not to hold the event in 2026, citing timing and integrity concerns tied to the gambling violations that ended his college career.
In a June 23 letter, the league informed Sorsby that it had decided not to hold a supplemental draft this year and had rejected his petition for special eligibility.
The NFL said that under its collective bargaining agreement, the league retains discretion over whether to hold a supplemental draft in a given year. According to the letter, the NFL had no plans to conduct one until it received Sorsby’s application. The last time the league held one was in 2019.
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,” the NFL wrote.
The decision follows months of controversy surrounding Sorsby’s gambling violations. The quarterback admitted to placing thousands of wagers on college and professional sports totaling more than $90,000. The NCAA ultimately ruled him permanently ineligible, citing a pattern of gambling activity across multiple schools.
According to the NFL’s letter, the league did not have the complete NCAA investigative record. However, the league noted that available information indicates that Sorsby wagered on his own team and teammates and used intermediary accounts to place bets on his behalf.
The NFL also said the allegations raised issues directly tied to its integrity policies.
The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented,” the letter stated.
An NFL source told ESPN that Sorsby’s application raised “core of the game integrity issues.”
NFL Criticizes Lack of Accountability
The NFL also questioned Sorsby’s handling of the NCAA sanctions.
The letter stated that Sorsby’s petition failed to address the underlying conduct that led to his suspension. Additionally, the petition did not demonstrate how he would comply with league integrity rules going forward.
“Your Petition does not address these matters. Nor does it demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League’s rules and policies governing the integrity of competition,” the NFL wrote.
League officials told ESPN they were concerned that conducting a supplemental draft review so close to training camp would create unnecessary distractions for teams.
Legal Challenge May Continue
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, sharply disputed the league’s characterization of the process and indicated that additional action may follow.
The response from the League was that all that was required was a short application,” Kessler told ESPN.
He argued that the NFL never requested additional documentation and never suggested that filing near the deadline would affect consideration of the petition. Kessler called the decision “a violation of the CBA and the law” and said the matter would be pursued through the NFL Players Association.
The NFL Players Association has not indicated whether it believes grounds exist for a challenge.
The latest developments come weeks after Sorsby abandoned his lawsuit against the NCAA despite obtaining a temporary injunction that would have allowed him to play a final collegiate season at Texas Tech.
Instead, Sorsby opted to pursue the supplemental draft route. With no supplemental draft scheduled, the league encouraged him to prepare for possible entry through the 2027 NFL Draft.
As Commissioner Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability,” the league wrote.
“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.”
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