It's been a while since a prospect as talented and intriguing as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby entered the NFL Supplemental Draft.
But how does his potential stack up to the top rookie passers from the 2026 NFL Draft class?
This year's NFL Draft featured Indiana's Fernando Mendoza at the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Alabama's Ty Simpson to the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 13 overall selection. Mendoza was the easy choice for the Raiders after a stellar senior campaign for the Hoosiers that featured an undefeated season, a Heisman Trophy, and the first national title in program history. Simpson struggled through injuries and inconsistency late in the 2025 season, but still showed flashes of high-end potential that helped get the Crimson Tide into the College Football Playoff.
Appearing on ESPN this week, college football analyst Jordan Rodgers opined that Sorsby actually has more upside than either of the first-round quarterbacks from this year's NFL Draft:
It's easy to see what NFL scouts will like about Sorsby's game, for sure. Last season at Cincinnati, Sorsby showed the ability to make every NFL throw, both inside the pocket and when out on the move, and his athleticism allowed him to create big plays outside of structure, both as a downfield passer and a runner. His highlight reel features some impressive deep balls that fall right on target, and layered throws to all levels of the field that show ideal touch and velocity. He's got enough athletic ability and playmaking instincts as a runner to threaten opposing defenses with his legs. All of that indeed gives him an intriguing ceiling at the next level.
But Sorsby's tape isn't without its flaws. His consistency was all over the place at times, with ball placement and anticipation varying wildly from game to game, and sometimes even drive to drive. The 2026 season for the Red Raiders would've given him the opportunity to gain more valuable starting experience while refining some of those rough edges in his game before making the jump to the NFL, but he won't get that opportunity now.
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It's true that neither Mendoza nor Simpson were touted during the predraft process for having extremely high ceilings. Mendoza's high floor should guard against his bust potential, but he lacks elite arm strength and athleticism that the league's high-end quarterbacks typically bring to the table. Simpson has a similar lack of top-shelf physical tools, but his lack of starting experience and inconsistent play last season make him more of a risky pick than Mendoza.
Based on their best highlights, you could make a case that Sorsby has as much if not more potential than Mendoza or Simpson, but that's not the full picture NFL teams will be looking at when it's time to decide whether or not he's worth a supplemental draft pick. They'll also be weighing his floor as a talented passer and athletic playmaker who still needs refinement, and also brings the added risk of off-field concern over the gambling issues that eventually proved to be the end of his college football career.
Could the ceiling be higher with Sorsby? Sure.
But he also carries a higher risk profile, which is why instead of going in the first round (like he could have in 2027 after a strong 2026 campaign at Texas Tech), he's heading into the Supplemental Draft with a ton of uncertainty around where he'll land, and how NFL teams will value him.
