Should the Jacksonville Jaguars look into using a 2027 late-round draft choice on former Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who will be available in next month’s supplemental draft?
The background on Sorsby …
He entered the supplemental draft on June 15 ending a controversial month in which he admitted to placing over $90,000 in bets over four years, including 40 on his own team (Indiana), in September-October 2022.
Ruled ineligible by the NCAA, Sorsby took the governing body to court and he was granted an injunction on June 8. The NCAA was in the process of appealing when Sorsby decided to leave Texas Tech before playing a game.
In 31 career starts for Indiana and Cincinnati, Sorsby was 13-18 with 60 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
The case for adding Sorsby?
1. The Jaguars have draft picks to use: Counting projected compensatory picks for losing running back Travis Etienne to New Orleans and linebacker Devin Lloyd to Carolina in free agency and not adding players with similar salaries, the Jaguars stand at nine picks in the 2027 draft. (They could add a 10th for losing cornerback Greg Newsome to the New York Giants.) Why not offer up a sixth- or seventh-round pick to bid for Sorsby?
2. The 2027 back-up quarterback situation is unsettled: Veteran Nick Mullens is the final year of his contract and the Jaguars also have Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar under contract. If the Jaguars opt to not re-sign Mullens (he has a $2.5 million cap hit this year) to save some money, what’s the plan behind Trevor Lawrence on the depth chart? Sorsby would be an ideal candidate to compete for the spot.
3. Sorsby is an emerging player: Last year for Cincinnati, he had 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions and scored nine rushing touchdowns for the 7-5 Bearcats. I don’t buy that he projected as a 2026 first-round pick had he declared; he would have entered the draft if that was true. But if he would have had a solid Texas Tech season this year, he might have been a Day 2 pick (rounds 2-3). Adding an emerging player via late-round pick would represent great value.
The case against adding Sorsby?
1. He isn’t exactly “intangibly rich”: Jaguars fans, you know the saying coined by general manager James Gladstone. Sure, the Jaguars want to acquire talented players, but minus significant baggage. Well, your baggage doesn’t get more significant than betting on your own team (even if it is to win). Would Sorsby be a distraction? I don’t think so if the Jaguars properly explain their reasoning right away and then have Sorsby address his situation, also right away. This is a decision that would require approval by owner Shad Khan.
2. He would take up a roster spot this year: Even if Sorsby isn’t disciplined by the NFL (he didn’t make the bets while an NFL player), he would be taking up a roster spot because he would be so far behind in learning coach Liam Coen’s offense and it would make no sense to try and slide him through waivers to the practice squad after training camp (somebody would claim him). Keep Sorsby on the 53-man roster at the expense of an extra player who could help the Jaguars? Not appealing.
The final verdict?
The Jaguars should have a conversation about Sorsby and if Coen thinks he would be a good fit for the offense, they should send a scout to Sorsby’s pro day next month. But I think this is all moot. A quarterback-needy team should use a third- or fourth-round pick (I mean you, the New York Jets) to secure Sorsby, a price the Jaguars should (and would) balk at.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night”), Thursdays (1:15 on “XL Primetime”) and Fridays (4-6 p.m. on “The Lead”).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Should Jaguars consider drafting QB Brendan Sorsby? Case for, against
Reporting by Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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By Ryan O'Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
