Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will almost certainly enter the NFL this summer via the supplemental draft, and if he plays his cards right, the Detroit Lions could be the franchise that gives him his almighty chance.
Head coach Dan Campbell wouldn’t rule out Sorsby for his team last week, and the idea might make sense as a long-term contingency plan for Jared Goff.
Detroit Could Take the Long View at Sorsby
Sorsby to DET Is Not Impossible
NFL insider Jason La Canfora wrote late last week, “Lions coach Dan Campbell, despite having quarterback Jared Goff under contract for two more years, did not rule out the team exploring top quarterback prospect Brendan Sorsby, who hopes to be deemed eligible for the supplemental draft next month.”
“Campbell’s remarks caught attention around the league, and he could have been speaking for several coaches on contending teams with legit starting QBs right now when he addressed the situation this week.”
Campbell said, “All I can tell you is that we look at everything. General manager Brad Holmes looks at everything, and so nothing is off the docket, so our eyes are open. Doesn’t mean we will make a move or we won’t.”
La Canfora added, “Teams can get out of most every quarterback contract in the NFL within the next 18 months (by nature of their very structure), so if a team like the Lions, who have been very willing to make picks in the first round that other teams would not, opted to part with a high pick in 2027 to land Sorsby now, no one in other front offices would flinch.”
When Will the Goff Experiment Get Old?
Goff joined the Lions in 2021 via trade with the Los Angeles Rams — the deal that shipped Matthew Stafford west and fetched a Super Bowl win for Sean McVay and Co. — and the outcome has been marvelous, especially because Goff was considered a “throwaway” asset in the trade at the time.
But through five seasons, the Lions haven’t quite reached the Promised Land. They suffered the largest collapse in NFC Championship history in 2023, and the franchise just hasn’t been the same since.
While offloading Goff sometime soon doesn’t seem wise — he’s emphatically not holding them back — at what point would the experiment become stale? For example, the New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after the 2024-2025 season, and a year later, the Knicks won the championship. Eventually, the Lions may need to shake things up, and Sorsby would be a fascinating alternative if Detroit is ready to end the Goff era in the next few seasons.
Sorsby’s Gambling Fiasco in a Nutshell
Sorsby’s situation is a fascinating mess.
The NCAA has permanently barred him from collegiate play due to gambling violations, specifically for betting on Indiana football while he was a Hoosier. Then, he was reinstated, and Texas Tech fans rejoiced — but the decision sparked outrage as Sorsby bet on his own team. Now, Sorsby’s most probable path is the NFL Supplemental Draft. It would allow an NFL team to acquire a talented quarterback now in exchange for a 2027 draft pick.
It’s clear why teams would be interested. Sorsby, at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, possesses a legitimately strong arm, moves well, and has enough accuracy to attract NFL scouts. At 22, his exceptional physical gifts and relative youth offer coaches a significant opportunity for development.
The downsides, though, are equally apparent. He requires time to refine his game, particularly in information processing, and he occasionally leaves the pocket prematurely. The gambling violations are clearly a ginormous red flag.
Ultimately, Sorsby represents a classic high-upside gamble: a player with undeniable talent and wild baggage.
Other Frontrunners in the Supplemental Draft
About one-third of the league is on tap to perhaps take a gander at Sorsby. The world thinks these are the top landing spots:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Carolina Panthers
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New York Jets
- Pittsburgh Steelers
The Colts, especially, might make sense, as Daniel Jones is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and no one is too sure if he’s sustainable for the long haul in the first place.
The intense QB-needy teams, such as the Cardinals and Jets, could check some boxes out of desperation. Those clubs have severely underwhelming quarterback situations and may even be already eyeing the 2027 draft class for new signal-callers.
The supplemental draft will occur in mid-July. Pundits expect the winner of the Sorsby sweepstakes to spend a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder (from next year’s cabinet) to get him.
