The NFL informed teams Tuesday that it won't hold a supplemental draft in 2026.
The decision makes Brendan Sorsby ineligible to play next season. The former Cincinnati quarterback who joined Texas Tech earlier this offseason was the only applicant for the supplemental draft. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL has the right to decide whether to hold a supplemental draft.
"As commissioner (Roger) Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability," the NFL's management council wrote in a letter to Sorsby that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport obtained. "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."
Sorsby was previously deemed ineligible to play in the upcoming college football season after acknowledging that he'd gambled on sports, including betting on his own team, while at Indiana. Sorsby admitted to making thousands of wagers totaling upwards of $90,000.
"It is a violation of the CBA and the law. We will pursue this immediately with the NFLPA," Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told ESPN's Pete Thamel regarding the NFL's decision not to hold a supplemental draft.
Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction earlier in June, clearing the way for him to play at Texas Tech. However, the Big 12 responded by filing a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Dallas. The league sought a court order to support its authority to enforce its bylaws and impose potential punishment against him.
The 22-year-old and his attorneys ultimately dropped their lawsuit against the NCAA and filed paperwork to enter the supplemental draft to begin his NFL career.
"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's letter to Sorsby reads. "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 NFL last had a player selected in the supplemental draft in 2019, when the Arizona Cardinals took safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round.
Although Sorsby is ineligible to sign as a free agent, he can play in other professional leagues before potentially entering the 2027 NFL Draft. Last season, he completed 61.6% of his throws at Cincinnati for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
