JACKSONVILLE — The NFL informed Brendan Sorsby that it will not hold a supplemental draft in 2026. The league encouraged Sorsby to prepare for the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.

NFL attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. stated in a letter to Sorsby, "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." Ferazani added, "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."

Sorsby, who is 22 years old, applied for the supplemental draft after the NCAA declared him ineligible for betting on sporting events. Ferazani noted in the letter, "The sole reasons identified in your Petition for seeking entry into the Supplemental Draft are that you have been 'declared ineligible' by the NCAA, have 'exhausted all of (your) avenues to continue in the NCAA,' and 'want to now play in the NFL.'" He further stated, "The Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA's decision."

Public sources indicate the NCAA issued a determination in May 2026, declaring Sorsby permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics. This determination cited a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during his collegiate career at three different universities. The NCAA found Sorsby placed bets worth at least $90,000 during his college career, including at least 40 bets on Indiana games while he was a freshman there in 2022. He did not place bets on games in which he played for Indiana during the 2022 season, but he did place bets involving his own team while at Indiana.

Sorsby spent a month in a residential treatment program for a diagnosed addiction. Earlier in 2026, he transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech. Sorsby sued the NCAA, which resulted in a court-ordered reinstatement. The submission deadline for the 2026 supplemental draft was Monday. The NFL has not held a supplemental draft since 2023, and no player has been selected in the NFL supplemental draft since 2019.

Eligibility for the regular draft or supplemental draft is required for entry into the NFL under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with Article 6 stating, "No player shall be eligible to be employed by an NFL Club until he has been eligible for selection in an NFL Draft." An anonymous person with knowledge of the NFL Players Association's thinking stated the union has not made any determination on legal grounds to act on the league's decision regarding Sorsby.

Sorsby is scheduled to hold a private workout in July at a Dallas-area high school. ESPN college sports insider Pete Thamel reported that all 32 NFL teams are expected to attend Sorsby's pro day workout on July 10. Sorsby's agent stated that 26 NFL teams reached out to inquire about Sorsby. He started his college career at Indiana before transferring to Cincinnati and then Texas Tech. In the previous season, Sorsby recorded a 61.6% completion percentage, 2,800 passing yards, and a 27/5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.