According to 850 ESPN Cleveland radio, the Cleveland Browns may be interested in quarterback Brendan Sorsby who departed the Cincinnati Bearcats via the transfer portal to Texas Tech for a reported $5 million in January.
Now with gambling allegations perhaps bringing his college eligibility to an end, Sorsby could be available via the NFL supplemental draft, even though the league hasn’t held such an event since 2023.
The Browns once landed a noteworthy quarterback in the supplemental draft when they took Bernie Kosar of the Miami Hurricanes in 1985 via a loophole.
Tony Grossi, a Browns and NFL analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, said someone would probably take a second-round stab at Sorsby and cited draft expert Dane Brugler as saying Sorsby would likely be a first-rounder given a college season to play.
Brugler had said Sorsby would have been the third quarterback selected in the recent NFL draft, possibly a second or third-round pick after the pick of Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza went No. 1 overall.
“The possibility of Sorsby entering the supplemental draft requires the organization to finalize an evaluation of him. They’ve probably already begun that from last year, from playing at Cincinnati. They already have a body of work on this player. Now that he might become available, they have to decide, especially with these new revelations, is he worthy of bidding on? I don’t want to jump to conclusions that they plan on pursuing this guy heavily, because right now I don’t think they know that answer.”
The Orange and Brown Podcast and former ESPN analyst Todd McShay of The Ringer have also discussed the interest of the Browns with Sorsby.
NFL supplemental draft may not be given for Brendan Sorsby
In a CBS Sports article by John Breech, NFL Insider Jonathan Jones was quoted as saying some may not be interested.
“If he wanted to apply to the NFL for the supplemental draft, folks I talked to believe he would not be approved,” Jones said. “So the supplemental draft seems like an extremely unlikely pathway this summer. And here’s why: The NFL is obviously very hard on those who gamble on NFL games … If you are in the NFL and you do bet on your team — win or lose — you are banned a minimum of two years. That’s how seriously the league takes this.”
Who would be Brendan Sorsby’s competition in Cleveland?
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel would be among his competition. Going back to his college career, Sanders and Colorado defeated Sorsby and the UC Bearcats.
In a 34-23 win over the Bearcats in Boulder in 2024, Sanders was 25-for-30 for 323 with two touchdowns to Heisman winner Travis Hunter and a running score. Sorsby was 16-for-30 for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Gabriel lost to the Bearcats while at UCF, then beat them as an Oklahoma Sooner, but never played vs. Sorsby.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NFL analyst says Cleveland Browns could have Brendan Sorsby interest
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
