Brendan Sorsby may need to embrace extreme move to play competitive football after supplemental draft decision

Shortly after it was learned on Tuesday that the NFL would not be holding a supplemental draft this summer, Pete Thamel and Adam Schefter of ESPN mentioned that controversial quarterback Brendan Sorsby "would potentially be able to play in the" Canadian Football League this year. 

On Wednesday, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggested that heading up North isn't a realistic option for Sorsby. 

Brendan Sorsby faces an "uphill climb" to play in the CFL this year

"The regular season, however, has already begun (it started on June 4). If the CFL lets him in — apparently, no team has squatted on his negotiating rights — he’d be way behind the curve. It would be an uphill climb to get on the field in 2026," Florio wrote about Sorsby.

The NCAA deemed Sorsby ineligible to play during the upcoming college football season after he admitted to gambling on Indiana games when he was a member of that team. Earlier this spring, he entered a residential treatment program to deal with a gambling addiction.

Also on Wednesday, Florio explained why NFL free agency isn't an option for Sorsby. 

"No player can sign with an NFL team without first being available to be drafted," Florio said. "With the NFL not granting his application to be drafted, Sorsby won’t be available to be drafted until April 2027. He could sign with a team as a free agent only after being available for a draft and going undrafted. Before that, he must enter the NFL through a draft."

Barring a surprising development, Sorsby will not have time to win a legal battle that would force the NFL to hold a supplemental draft. Per league rules, this year's supplemental draft would have taken place on or before July 16.

Brendan Sorsby could have one extreme option to play competitive football in 2026

"[Sorsby] could also do what quarterback Hunter Dekkers did after permanently losing his NCAA eligibility for underage gambling and for betting on his own team while on the Iowa State roster but not playing," Florio added. "Dekkers spent the 2024 season playing for Iowa Western Community College before entering the 2025 draft."

Dekkers is currently with the New Orleans Saints, but it's unclear if he'll make the team's final roster later this summer. Of course, Sorsby is seen as a much more desirable prospect, but it remains unclear how many teams will consider taking a flier on him whenever he is made available to clubs via a draft.