NFL executives open up about Brendan Sorsby gambling concerns

Barring a surprising development, former Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby will be available to every NFL team via the supplemental draft that will take place on or before July 16.

Of course, Sorsby's well-known history with gambling has made him quite the controversial prospect among pockets of media members, fans and former players. For a piece published on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated spoke with multiple league executives about how concerns related to Sorsby's past actions could impact when he is chosen during the supplemental draft.

Would acquiring Brendan Sorsby keep an NFL executive from sleeping soundly?

"The way I’d look at the gambling, I don’t really care if he’s suspended for part of this year so much," one unnamed AFC executive said about Sorsby. "What I care about is, can I sleep good at night knowing it’s behind him? I know he went to rehab, but was that a reaction to getting caught or a real effort to get past it?"

That executive was referencing how Sorsby may have to serve a lengthy suspension after the signal-caller previously entered a residential treatment program to deal with a gambling addiction and admitted to gambling on Indiana games when he was a member of that team. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding whether or not the Cleveland Browns will bid on Sorsby during the supplemental draft. The New York Jets are allegedly ready to pass on taking a flier on Sorsby, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are among the teams that "are currently doing their homework" on the young quarterback. 

"I want the context of it — was he sitting on the couch bored, a kid punching bets into his phone, or was this strategic and planned out and all that? If this is just a guy on his phone placing bets, that’s correctable. That’s not harming anyone else," a different executive told Breer while speaking about Sorsby.

Agent explains why teams shouldn't worry about landing Brendan Sorsby

Breer also shared what Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, would say to NFL teams worried about what his client may or may not do once Sorsby officially becomes a pro player. 

"The NCAA specifically found there were no integrity-of-the-game concerns," Slavin said about the NCAA's investigation of Sorsby. "Brendan never bet on a game in which he played. In fact, the only wagers involving his team occurred in 2022, when he was redshirting and had not yet appeared in a game. Those bets were simply on his team and teammates to succeed. Once Brendan began suiting up and participating in games, there were zero bets placed on his own team. The remainder of the wagers over the next three years involved other sports and were unrelated to college football. This was an 18-year-old kid who made a mistake from his dorm room. He has acknowledged that mistake, accepted responsibility and paid a significant price for it. Losing his final season of college football is a substantial punishment that will impact him for the rest of his life." 

The perception exists that Sorsby’s camp learned good news about at least his short-term NFL future before it became known that he planned to enter the supplemental draft. For what it's worth, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US reported as recently as last week that "Sorsby is expected to go in the second round." 

Acquiring Sorsby's rights via the supplemental draft would cost a club the corresponding pick in next year’s springtime draft.