Steelers Pursuit of 2026 Texas Tech QB Comes to an Abrupt End
Ever since Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby declared for the supplemental draft last week, there’s been speculation about whether or not the Steelers will bid on him. There’s no denying that Sorsby is talented; however, any team that selects him would be taking a major risk. The 22-year-old has a well-documented history of gambling problems. Sorsby made more than 9,000 bets on college and professional sports during his collegiate football career. His bets added up to at least $90,000. He made 40 bets that involved the Indiana Hoosiers when he was on their team.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the NFL won’t be holding a supplemental draft in 2026. He shared the news on Twitter/X, writing, “Just in: NFL is declining to hold a supplemental draft this summer, currently leaving the 2027 Draft as the only way for QB Brendan Sorsby to enter the NFL. A letter is being sent to Sorsby and to all 32 NFL teams, to inform them of the league’s decision.” With this ruling, the NFL is continuing to enforce that they have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to players and team personnel gambling. Former Steelers guard Ramon Foster took to Twitter/X to share his thoughts on the news. He wrote, “Told yall, the NFL just can’t allow it. Sucks for Sorsby and his camp, but we are all given warnings in those compliance meetings in college.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared some details of the letter that the NFL sent to Sorsby explaining their decision. The letter noted, “Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, the League retains sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year.” It also stated, “The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry. 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 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.”
Sitting out the 2026 season allows Sorsby to have time to repair his reputation and prepare for the 2027 NFL Draft. It’s unlikely that the 22-year-old will be the top QB prospect in 2027. Next year’s QB draft class is expected to be exceptionally strong. The top prospects include Texas’ Arch Manning and Oregon’s Dante Moore. The Steelers, along with all other NFL teams, will have a wide selection of QBs to choose from that don’t have the off-field issues that Sorsby does.
