Another name could be in the mix for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the quarterback position.
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday that Brendan Sorsby is applying for the NFL’s supplemental draft. The Texas Tech quarterback has changed his mind about staying in college.
Brendan Sorsby’s attorneys plan to withdraw their lawsuit Tuesday, per source. That means he will officially be ineligible under the NCAA’s ruling, clearing the way for him to enter the NFL supplemental draft. https://t.co/iwFsu7g4si
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2026
Sorsby recently won a temporary injunction preserving his college eligibility for 2026 following the NCAA’s initial ruling against him last month. The former Cincinnati Bearcat and Indiana Hoosier admitted to placing over $90,000 in bets over four years, including 40 on his own team.
Those actions are against NCAA rules.
Despite his legal victory, other NCAA schools said they would stop scheduling Texas Tech. Also, the Big 12 filed a lawsuit Monday in Dallas federal court intended to secure a ruling that the conference can sanction Texas Tech if Sorsby plays in 2026.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the NCAA appealed last week’s ruling that restored Sorsby’s eligibility — asking for a decision before the start of the season.
So Sorsby pivoted and is now looking toward the pro ranks. The deadline to apply is June 22.
If Sorsby enters the draft, he could be ruled ineligible for the first two games because he was likely to carry that suspension with him even if he did play at Texas Tech this year. Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor was a supplemental pick of the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2011 selection process. He had to serve a five-game suspension upon his arrival because the NFL honored the NCAA suspension Pryor was looking at after he left Ohio State.
The supplemental draft is usually held before training camps open. That’s if anyone is actually in it, which isn’t often the case. The last player selected in the NFL supplemental draft was Washington State safety Jalen Thompson. He was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round.
Sorsby completed 61% of his passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns with Cincinnati last year. He only threw five interceptions. Sorsby also ran for 580 yards and nine more scores.
Even before the draft, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said that he’d like the idea of coaching four quarterbacks. So, hey, why not five?
The 22-year-old from Dallas was second-team All-Big 12 a year ago. He’s 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. No doubt, his talent is intriguing. Pelissero went on “The Rich Eisen Show” last month and insisted that Sorsby could’ve been in the mix as the top QB in the 2026 draft had he come out of college.
He’s also fresh out of gambling rehab, and whatever round you bid on a player in the supplemental draft, you lose that corresponding pick next April.
“Monday Morning Quarterback’s” Albert Breer says Sorsby will probably have a pro day and/or private workouts between July 5-12. I haven’t watched enough of Sorsby to declaratively spout an emotional hot take about whether the Steelers should burn next year’s first-rounder on him this year.
But I know this: If the Steelers feel that way, they absolutely should.
If the Steelers honestly think Sorsby is someone they would’ve liked to take in next April’s first round, and they think the gambling issue is being properly managed, they should put that first-round bid on him now. Don’t mess around and low ball.
But if they think he’s anything less than a first-rounder, don’t do it. If they think there might be another QB or two better than him available next spring, forget about it.
Because if the Steelers get Sorsby with a second or third-round pick, and they wind up in a position to move up the draft board to get someone they like better, that second- or third-round pick is no longer available for trade, and they wind up with a QB they desire less.
Not to mention they would have already burned a selection on Drew Allar last year.
Again, this all comes down to the Steelers’ perception of Sorsby. At any point, if any team has the chance to land what they deem to be a golden ticket at quarterback, take that choice and figure out the details later.
If Sorsby is drafted, the Steelers can trade Mason Rudolph for a song. Or cut Will Howard. Or put Allar on injured reserve. Why not? At that point, Allar’s development is inconsequential.
Whatever. Sorsby would be your guy. Nothing else matters.
If they aren’t as sure, though, take a knee or put in a ridiculously low bid and see how it goes. It doesn’t sound like he’s going to last all that long, though.
This is strictly a matter of the Steelers trusting their own quarterback evaluations. One way or the other, let’s hope that decision-making process goes better than it did under the previous coaching regime.