NFL declines Brendan Sorsby's supplemental draft petition and says no draft will be held in 2026

The NFL announced that it will not conduct a supplemental draft in 2026 and has denied quarterback Brendan Sorsby's petition to enter such a draft. In a letter to Sorsby, the league said it had no plans for a supplemental draft because no other player had applied and that the petition, filed three days before the deadline, lacked supporting documentation. The league also cited the seriousness of Sorsby's NCAA gambling violations, which resulted in a permanent ineligibility ruling, as a factor that could not be reviewed within the given timeframe.

Sorsby, 22, transferred to Texas Tech after stints at Indiana, Cincinnati and the University of Texas, and entered a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction in April. An NCAA investigation found he placed bets on his own teams and used intermediaries to conceal the activity. A federal judge later dismissed his lawsuit against the NCAA, restoring the ineligibility decision.

Lawyer Jeffrey Kessler told The Athletic that the case may be taken to the NFL Players Association, though the union has not yet decided whether it will intervene. NFL Management Council general counsel Larry Ferazani wrote that the petition did not address the underlying conduct or demonstrate accountability, and that the league could not assess the matter without a complete record of the NCAA investigation.

Texas Tech officials said the university will continue to provide recovery resources to Sorsby but will not retain him on the football roster for the fall. His agent reported that Sorsby faces over $1 million in legal fees and has lost NIL deals, including a contract with a major sports brand.

The NFL encouraged Sorsby to prepare for the regular 2027 NFL Draft, noting that players become eligible for undrafted free-agent contracts only after that draft concludes.