5 NFL Teams That Could Make a Move for Brendan Sorsby in the 2026 Supplemental Draft

One of the hottest names in football right now has to be former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby. If his off-field college football gambling scandal didn’t make enough waves, he’s staying relevant by side-stepping CFB and trying to force his way into the NFL.

Sorsby has submitted an application to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft, which would allow any NFL team to forego a 2027 draft choice for the ability to select him. It remains to be seen whether Sorsby will be approved, but everyone is still pondering what his next stop could be.

Not every NFL team is a fit, nor will every franchise feel compelled to risk 2027 draft capital to chase down a prospect that has question marks. But these five teams do make sense as potential Brendan Sorsby landing spots.

Cleveland Browns

If anyone is fine with taking on massive risk and not caring what the public thinks, it has to be the Cleveland Browns. GM Andrew Berry did just that in 2022, when he handed Deshaun Watson a huge guaranteed contract despite dealing with his own off-field scandal.

That didn’t really work out, but Berry seemed open to the idea of assuming more risk when recently broached on the topic.

Cleveland still doesn’t have an answer under center and is retooling their roster and onboarding a new head coach. They have talent in their quarterback room, but the future is still murky at the position.

Adding a dynamic passer like Sorsby – troubled or not – that can force the ball down the field and keep defenses guessing with his legs, would be a huge get.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Another franchise stuck in quarterback purgatory is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They recently moved on from longtime head coach Mike Tomlin, but with new hire Mike McCarthy in place, this doesn’t look like a franchise ready to embrace a long rebuild.

That’s the main reason the team was open to 42-year old veteran signal caller Aaron Rodgers returning. Rodgers has said “this is it” for him, however, meaning Pittsburgh will be back to square one come 2027.

Does that mean the franchise looks for yet another stopgap as they groom youngsters like Will Howard or Drew Allar, or will they eye a shortcut like the Supplemental Draft? Considering the Steelers are trying to compete in 2026, they may be pricing themselves out of a legit franchise quarterback in next year’s draft, making landing Sorsby now an appealing idea.

Sorsby would fit McCarthy’s offense perfectly, with his combination of size, athleticism, and arm strength offering the perfect clay ball to be molded under the tutelage of Rodgers.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are another team that hasn’t quite established a long-term answer under center. They do have Daniel Jones locked up for another year, and he looked good in 2025 with the team, but most players struggle to effectively recover from a torn Achilles.

It’s quite likely Jones’ best days are behind him, and that could leave Riley Leonard as Indy’s next man up. Some are excited about his prospects, but he lacks draft capital or experience, meaning the Colts would have to be truly over the moon internally to stand pat with the former Notre Dame product.

Assuming that isn’t the case, Indianapolis could jump at the opportunity to risk a future second or third-round pick to nab what many view as a first-round caliber player. Sorsby’s athleticism and moxie would remind some of Andrew Luck, and he’d give brilliant head coach Shane Steichen the exact type of dynamic signal caller he needs to execute his offense.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have to be a popular Brendan Sorsby landing spot, seeing as they have a rookie head coach and plenty of offensive talent – but not a quarterback.

Arizona does have quarterbacks on the roster. Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II give the team veteran presences, while Brissett was productive as the starter in 2025. However, neither player is viewed as a realistic long-term option, and rookie third-round pick Carson Beck is an unknown commodity.

Realistically, the Cardinals are likely bracing for another year of tanking, which would put them in position to nab a legit superstar quarterback in the top-10 in the 2027 NFL Draft.

But what if Mike LeFleur and co. were enamored with Sorsby’s talent, as well as the possibility of getting a quality prospect at a cheaper rate?

If Arizona is smitten with Sorsby’s talent and ceiling, they look like one of the more tantalizing spots for the former Bearcat to land.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There are admittedly several more potential landing spots for Brendan Sorsby, but my favorite to round out his top-5 destinations has to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The main reason Tampa Bay stands out is the potential for the franchise to part ways with current quarterback Baker Mayfield. It’s still possible the two agree on a long-term pact, but Mayfield is already 31, constantly hurt, and entering a contract year.

If Tampa Bay is content with letting things play out, they may also see the upside in landing some security at the position. That could come in the form of Sorsby, who offers a very similar skill set to Mayfield, and would join a team seemingly built to contend right now.

Tampa Bay’s offense remains loaded with weapons like Bucky Irving, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, and Cade Otton. The Bucs will make a final push with Mayfield and make that call, but investing in Sorsby could provide them protection and allow them to make the best possible decision for the franchise.

Who Will Draft Brendan Sorsby?

First, we do need to acknowledge that Sorsby’s application to even be in the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft has yet to be approved. Even if it is, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could opt to suspend him for his college gambling scandal, and that could severely impact how much teams are willing to invest in him.

Secondly, it’s worth wondering if Sorsby is even worth all the trouble. He has a lively arm and is a plus athlete, but it’s tough to gauge how good he actually is. While he has the size, arm strength, and mobility to develop into a star, his poor decision-making and off-field questions cloud his outlook.

Ultimately, Sorsby should get drafted if he’s allowed to be in the Supplemental Draft. Of all the teams that need a quarterback and should have interest, I think the Buccaneers make the most sense.

Baker Mayfield is approaching a contract situation that could turn ugly, and the team could opt to kick the tires on Sorsby to see if he can be the long-term replacement. Sorsby’s skill set fits Tampa’s system, and they might be too good to land a marquee pick in next year’s draft. Taking a stab at a quality prospect via a second or third-round pick may be the better bet for them.