The NFL supplemental draft rarely generates much attention, which makes the New York Jets being mentioned as a possible aggressor all the more intriguing. The franchise hasn’t selected a player in the supplemental draft since 1990, when it landed Syracuse Orange wide receiver Rob Moore. That’s part of what makes a recent suggestion from The Athletic so interesting.
According to Jeff Howe, if Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby ultimately enters the supplemental draft, the Jets could be one of the teams positioned to make a serious run. Yes, that would certainly qualify as a gamble. Howe doesn’t seem to mind, and to be honest, there are probably several handfuls of Jets fans who wouldn’t mind either.
Sorsby’s name has surfaced because of an ongoing NCAA investigation into alleged sports betting activity connected to Indiana Hoosiers football games in 2022, when he was still a student athlete as part of the program. He, along with attorney Jeffrey Kessler, is reportedly seeking an expedited ruling on his eligibility situation.
If things don’t break favorably, the supplemental draft becomes a real possibility. That’s where Howe’s Jets mention enters the conversation.
“The Jets have three first-round picks in 2027, so they can afford to be aggressive.”
Howe notes New York could structure a silent bid. From a pure talent perspective, the intrigue makes sense. Before this off-field cloud emerged, Sorsby was viewed by some as a legitimate early-round prospect in the 2027 draft cycle.
He brings dual-threat ability, developmental upside, and the type of physical tools that generally get evaluators interested, but this is where the conversation gets complicated. The Jets already added Cade Klubnik in the draft as a developmental quarterback. Geno Smith is expected to open the season as the starter, and New York still has other quarterback depth to sort through behind him.
Roster spots matter. Developmental quarterbacks especially require patience, reps, and protected roster space. That makes carrying another long-term project difficult to justify unless the organization believes Sorsby’s talent dramatically outweighs the complications, and those complications are impossible to ignore.
Even setting aside the active investigation, the optics of spending future draft capital on a quarterback tied to alleged gambling concerns would create an immediate firestorm. That doesn’t mean the idea is impossible. The Jets have the assets to make a move if they truly love the player. The bigger question is whether adding another developmental quarterback with uncertainty attached solves a real roster problem or simply creates a new one.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets urged to gamble on QB with checkered history in supplemental draft
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
