Brendan Sorsby gets more bad news after supplemental draft decision

Controversial quarterback prospect Brendan Sorsby was dealt a harsh blow when it was learned on Tuesday that the NFL will not be holding a supplemental draft this summer. 

Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, later suggested that "we will pursue this immediately with the" NFL Players Association. Later on Tuesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano and others shared more bad news for Sorsby about the signal-caller possibly being permitted to join an NFL team before the 2026 season gets underway. 

Is Brendan Sorsby out of time to win a legal battle vs. NFL?

"Sorsby and his team could continue to pursue legal action that forces the NFL to accept his petition and allow him to play this season," Graziano wrote, "but since we're only about three weeks away from the latest possible date for a supplemental draft, it's unlikely a court could force the league to hold one. If Sorsby were to take this to court and succeed, it's theoretically possible he could be declared an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any team prior to the start of the season. But that feels far-fetched, and even if so, the league could decide to suspend him."

Had the NFL held a supplemental draft this year, it would have taken place on or before July 16. Meanwhile, a previous report noted that at least some teams were concerned that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would "impose a significant suspension on Sorsby" if the quarterback entered the league via this summer's supplemental draft.

Sorsby admitted to gambling on Indiana games when he was a member of that program, and he entered a residential treatment program to deal with a gambling addiction earlier this spring.

Why the NFLPA may not help Brendan Sorsby this summer? 

As ESPN's Dan Wetzel shared, the NFL said in a letter sent to Sorsby that "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." On Tuesday afternoon, Jared Mueller of SB Nation revealed the following via X: 

"After speaking to an agent friend, every or almost every year, someone applies for the Supplemental Draft, including the last 10 years or so. Often, the NFL decides not to hold the draft despite applicants."

Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported early Tuesday evening that "a source close to the situation tells PFT that the NFLPA has not made any determination on if, how, or whether the union has legal grounds to challenge the NFL’s decision." Interestingly, Florio also hinted that the NFLPA may not be in a hurry to help Sorsby this summer. 

"Here’s where it gets a little awkward," Florio wrote. "By taking a stand for Sorsby, who is not currently in the union, the NFLPA could be impairing the employment of a current union member; if Sorsby gets a roster spot, someone else will be released. That’s reason enough for the NFLPA to take no position on the matter."

In short, it sounds like Sorsby may truly have to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft is held next spring to be made available to interested clubs.