Jets may have shocking chance to land potential franchise QB in July

The New York Jets may have an unexpected opportunity to address their long-term quarterback situation. And no, we're not talking about in 2027. We're talking about a matter of a couple of months.

Former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech earlier this offseason, is now facing an uncertain future after stepping away from the program to seek treatment for a gambling addiction.

The situation is far more serious than a standard leave of absence. Reports indicate Sorsby was found to have bet on his own team, which is a violation that carries the potential for permanent loss of NCAA eligibility.

If that happens, his college career is over. And that is where things get interesting for the NFL — and, of course, for the Jets.

How the Jets could benefit from the Brendan Sorsby situation

Sorsby was widely viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 draft class, alongside names like Texas's Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, and Ohio State's Julian Sayin.

Originally an Indiana recruit, Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in 2024 and is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he threw for over 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Reports suggest he would've been viewed as a fringe Day 1 prospect in this year's draft class had he declared, but a sizable NIL offer from Texas Tech convinced him to enter the transfer portal.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been firmly on the radar as a potential first-round pick in 2027. Now, that timeline may be accelerated dramatically.

Sorsby has two realistic paths at this stage. He could attempt to fight the NCAA ruling through legal action and try to regain his eligibility at Texas Tech, though that outcome is far from guaranteed. The more immediate and realistic option may be declaring for the NFL supplemental draft.

The supplemental draft is likely a bit of a mystery for many NFL fans. It's designed for players who did not declare for the standard NFL Draft but became eligible later, often due to academic or disciplinary issues. It has not been used frequently in recent years, and no player has been selected in it since 2019.

Draft order is determined by a weighted lottery based on the previous season’s results, divided into tiers. Teams like the Jets, with six or fewer wins, would fall into the highest-priority group. From there, teams submit blind bids on players using picks from the following year’s draft. If a team wins the bid, they forfeit that corresponding pick.

For example, if the Jets were to place a third-round bid on Sorsby and win, they would lose their 2027 third-round pick. Ties are determined based on the lottery system. That's where the decision becomes complicated.

On paper, this could be a rare chance to acquire a quarterback with legitimate high-end upside without waiting until 2027. The Jets are (obviously) not currently set at quarterback long-term, after acquiring Geno Smith in the offseason, and could view Sorsby as a way to get ahead of the next draft cycle.

But the risks are also notable. If the NCAA deems Sorsby ineligible for gambling violations, it is highly likely the NFL will issue its own suspension. There is precedent for this as well.

Players such as Terrelle Pryor faced suspension after entering the league through the supplemental draft, and more recent gambling-related cases have resulted in penalties ranging from multiple games to indefinite suspensions in the case of Isaiah Rodgers, although it was later rescinded.

That means the Jets might be investing significant enough draft capital in a player they cannot immediately evaluate on the field. There is also the timeline issue.

The Jets already drafted Cade Klubnik this year and are widely expected to target a quarterback in the 2027 draft, where they currently hold three first-round picks.

Using a valuable selection — potentially a second or third-rounder — on Sorsby would complicate that plan and possibly even limit their flexibility in what is projected to be a much stronger quarterback class.

It's a gamble in every sense of the word.

Still, opportunities like this are incredibly rare. A quarterback with this level of pedigree almost never becomes available outside of the traditional draft process, let alone in a setting where teams can quietly bid without competing in a standard selection order.

The Jets could face a fascinating decision. Do they take a chance on a talented but risky quarterback prospect and potentially get a jump on the future of the position? Or do they stay patient, preserve their draft capital, and wait for a more traditional opportunity in 2027?

Those are the questions the Jets and other NFL teams will be forced to evaluate if Sorsby opts for the seldom-used supplemental route. Stay tuned.

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