| NFC EAST |
| DALLASWR GEORGE PICKENS has reported for mini-camp per Todd Archer of ESPN.com: As a precursor to this week’s mandatory minicamp, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens took his physical Monday at The Star, according to a source. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer had said all along that he expected Pickens to be at the mandatory camp but that there were no assurances. Had Pickens skipped the camp, he would have faced fines totaling more than $90,000 that could not be rescinded by the club. Pickens signed the $27.3 million franchise tag in late March not long after executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would not negotiate a long-term deal with the Pro Bowl wide receiver. Had Pickens not signed the tag, he would not have had to show up to minicamp or training camp. Pickens did not participate in the voluntary workouts that included six organized team activities. Last week, Schottenheimer said Pickens’ work at minicamp would be limited because the team had not seen what kind of shape he is in. “He’s obviously a great athlete, but we’ll be smart, but there’s plenty of things he can do from the mocks to the walk-throughs and get him back into the system,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, if we’re cautious it’s just because we want to be cautious. It’s not because we don’t think he’s not working. We think he’s putting in the work and preparing to have a hell of a year.” Pickens established career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) in 2025 after he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cowboys’ decision to wait on a multiyear deal is about wanting to see more from Pickens — on and off the field — even if it ultimately costs the team more money down the line. Pickens and Dak Prescott had a handful of throwing sessions before the offseason program began. For the break between the minicamp and training camp, Prescott has organized a trip with the skill players for workouts and team-building. Schottenheimer did not divulge Pickens’ reaction when he was told there would not be any negotiations. “It was me, George and Jerry [Jones],” Schottenheimer said. “We made it clear with how much we love him and what he’s done for us here, and what he’s going to do for us for a long time.” |
| WASHINGTONWR STEFON DIGGS hints an affinity for joining his hometown Burgundy and Gold. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The NFL closed its Personal Conduct Policy investigation into Stefon Diggs last week, clearing the free agent wide receiver as he seeks a new team. Diggs, 32, addressed his future in an interview with Fox 5 DC on Monday, including the possibility of landing with his hometown Commanders. “I never realized how many fans it was back home until I was a free agent and people were like, ‘Are you going to come back home?’” Diggs told the TV station. “Especially when they see me back. I’m like this, I’ve been living here for my whole life. I’ve been living here for 10 years. They was just like this, ‘Oh, we never see you.’ I was like, ‘Man, y’all wasn’t looking.’ “It’s a lot of hopes. We’re kind of figuring it out, working through some things. I did have a small piece of me, like, ‘Damn, it would be great to come home and play in front of the fans I used to play in front of as a young adolescent in college and just kind of doing something for the city.’ Hopefully, things do work out. We’ll see how it goes.” Diggs grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and played collegiately at Maryland. He has played for the Vikings, who selected him in the fifth round in 2015, Bills, Texans and Patriots. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSWith some help from anonymous execs, Jeff Howe of The Athletic looks at the Rams bold offseason and their rivalry with Seattle: It’s apparent the Rams sensed two key elements from 2025 — that they believed they were just a handful of plays short of their own Super Bowl run, and that they didn’t just want to catch the Seahawks, but blow past them. “They’re competing their a— off,” said an NFL executive, granted anonymity so he could speak openly, of the Rams’ offseason. “In their minds, they were a 2-point conversion away from winning the Super Bowl. It’s a smart way to build their team. They’re trying to maximize their roster with an aging QB. They should think that way.” The Seahawks wrestled the division from the Rams in Week 16 when quarterback Sam Darnold completed a do-or-die 2-pointer to tight end Eric Saubert for a 38-37 overtime victory. From there, the Seahawks claimed the No. 1 seed and held off the Rams, 31-27, in the NFC Championship Game. Whether the Rams were truly a couple of plays away, they were close enough to be viewed around the league as a viable threat. Now, they’ve all but maxed out their resources with the visions of a better fate, and they don’t intend to waste time with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford turning 38 in February. “I think the Garrett trade can put them over the top,” a second executive said. “It gives them the closer on defense that they needed.” While the Rams’ pass defense wasn’t bad in 2025, it was their greatest vulnerability, so they acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed ex-Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract. “The (Garrett) trade isn’t as big as the McDuffie trade and the signing of Watson,” a coach said. “Those additions will impact their defensive unit more than Myles.” To that point, the Rams’ pass rush was already relatively strong. It tied for seventh last season with 47 sacks, and Verse is an ascending talent with a seemingly high ceiling. But Garrett might be peerless in his ability to impact the game — as well as the way teams prepare exclusively for him during the week. Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who turned 30 in December, has raced up the all-time sack list. He’s tied for 20th now with 125.5 and has a chance to crack the top 10 by the end of the season. If he maintains his career-long, 14-sack pace through 2031, Garrett will seize the sack crown from Bruce Smith (200). Plus, coach Sean McVay got a firsthand look at future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald for six years, so he can appreciate the impact of a generational juggernaut on the defensive front. And if Garrett’s arrival does actually woo Donald from retirement, this could go down as one of the most memorable trades in NFL history. Then again, 32 teams think they’re winning the Super Bowl right now. “I don’t get too hyped on this stuff,” a second coach said, “because it all gets sorted in the fall.” A third coach added, “I’m really not much into favorites at this time of year. A lot can happen before you actually get to Week 1. (But) I get the hype with L.A. It sure looks like they’re going all in.” That’s the admirable approach when the Super Bowl champs reside in the division. While the Seahawks had a much quieter offseason than their neighbors to the south, they’re understandably banking on coach Mike Macdonald’s program truly blossoming in his third year on the job. Make no mistake, the Seahawks outpaced even their own timeline, so there’s expectation for improvement. Darnold should be more comfortable now that he’s found a home, and his offensive line has built continuity, too. Safety Nick Emmanwori and defensive tackle Byron Murphy, among others, will make a greater impact on defense. Macdonald’s defense, which surrendered the fewest points in the NFL last season, has realistic potential for improvement. They should again be strong on special teams. The Seahawks’ disciplined roster reconstruction has been jolted by an incredible run of draft success. General manager John Schneider was the PFWA Executive of the Year in 2025, and assistant general manager Nolan Teasley was just hired as the Minnesota Vikings GM. “Schneider deserves a ton of credit for their roster,” the second coach said. The third coach added, “Seattle doesn’t get enough credit for their trajectory under Macdonald. I’m guessing they like that, because all the talk is on L.A., as opposed to them repeating.” Both teams have concerns, no doubt. The Rams are facing a tenuous situation at offensive tackle, while new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is a first-time play caller, though he shares some roots with ex-OC Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks have uncertainty at running back, as Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs, and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL. To that end, Seattle drafted Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price in the first round. It’s hardly a two-team race in the West, either. The San Francisco 49ers, winners of 12 games last season, have been to four NFC championships and two Super Bowls since 2019, and they’re consistently dangerous when healthy. There’s minimal letup in the strongest division in the league. “You have to be at your best to compete and make the playoffs in (the NFC West),” the first executive said. “You’ve got really good front offices in terms of aggressiveness and acquiring players, three of the best coaches in the NFL. If you’re not on it, you’re going to get left behind.”– – -Eric Dickerson tells DT Aaron Donald to stay retired. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: Aaron Donald recently hinted that he might end his two-year retirement to team up with Myles Garrett in Los Angeles. One Rams icon, however, argued that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year would be better served staying retired. Eric Dickerson, a Hall of Fame running back and the NFL’s record holder for rushing yards in a season, recently said that, while he would love to see Donald and Garrett wreak havoc on opposing offenses together, he doesn’t think it is necessary for Donald to come out of retirement. “Stay retired,” Dickerson told TMZ Sports when asked for his advice to Donald. “Enjoy retirement, man. Aaron did what he did.” There are two main reasons Dickerson argues that Donald should remain retired. One, Dickerson said the Rams, as currently constructed, are good enough to compete for a title. This offseason, the Rams acquired a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Garrett and former Chiefs All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. “We should have made [the Super Bowl] last year,” Dickerson said of the Rams, who lost two close games last season to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Secondly, Dickerson doesn’t think Donald needs to play football again. “He’s such a great player,” Dickerson said. “I loved to watch him play. … If he wants to come back and play, play. But why? What does he have to prove? He has nothing to prove.” The 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Donald enjoyed a dominant 10-year run with the Rams, during which he set a franchise record with 111 sacks. His first decade with the Rams also included 10 consecutive Pro Bowl nods (he and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders are the only players to start their careers with 10 straight Pro Bowl selections), nine All-Pro selections, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Donald, J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor are the only players to win Defensive Player of the Year three times. Donald is Pro Football Reference’s highest-rated defensive tackle of all-time, ahead of Hall of Famers Bob Lilly, Randy White, Alan Page and Joe Greene, among others. By coming back, Donald would risk joining the relatively long list of notable NFL players who had underwhelming comebacks, including players like Reggie White. There have also been more than a few successful comebacks, none better than John Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back who led Washington to the franchise’s first Super Bowl win two years after his first retirement. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIKatie Blackburn, who runs the Bengals on a day-to-day basis, has a media availability. Paul Dehner, Jr. of The Athletic: The Bengals missed the playoffs for three straight seasons with Joe Burrow at quarterback, and in the NFL, that typically means somebody in a powerful position loses their job. Not in Cincinnati, where the Bengals’ ownership decided to run it back with de facto general manager Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor, as well as the vast majority of their staff. Team president Mike Brown issued a statement of support for the two after the year, but that also served as a warning about the importance of seeing a return to contending in 2026. The pressure increased exponentially when Tobin and his staff put together one of the most aggressive offseasons in recent Bengals history, setting up a year in which Taylor will be counted on to lead this team back to the playoffs for the first time since losing in the AFC Championship Game in the 2022 season. “We think they deserve another opportunity to prove that we can do what we hope we can do,” executive vice president Katie Blackburn said Monday, sitting down with four local reporters, including The Athletic, inside the front offices of Paycor Stadium in advance of mandatory minicamp. The Bengals’ overhaul of the defensive roster, led by a blockbuster acquisition of Dexter Lawrence and free-agent additions of Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Bryan Cook, pairs with an offense returning every starter and a healthy Burrow. Taylor enters his eighth season as head coach with two years remaining on his contract. Does all this mean this year must be the year the Bengals return to the grand playoff stages? “We obviously are hoping to have a successful season this year,” Blackburn said. “I know (Tobin and Taylor) want to do that as much as I want to do that. I can’t predict anything into the future, but we’re certainly counting on, right now, having a good season and going from there.” The Bengals are banking on continuity with Tobin and Taylor, who sat next to each other and Brown at Taylor’s introductory news conference in January of 2019. All three are still here, and even Burrow called this the most talented team he’s been on in the NFL. All the pieces that have been part of previous success and building to this point played a significant role in ending up in this critical season with the same two in charge. “Both Zac and Duke are experienced guys with proven success and really good people,” Blackburn said. “We feel good about them for a lot of reasons. I think there’s also that element of consistency that hopefully will prove out to be beneficial, too. I think those are the things that we would rather try to take advantage of and build on rather than having to regroup and figure things out a little bit from scratch.” Blackburn was joined in this 30-minute interview by her daughter, Elizabeth, recently promoted to vice president. She pointed out that just because the changes weren’t in the form of anyone of significance losing their job, that doesn’t mean all systems are repeating as in the past. “We are trying to take very measured steps to maximize our chances with known commodities,” Elizabeth Blackburn said. “We think we’ve made changes in certain processes, on the roster, behind the scenes, certain things that can lead to different outcomes. That’s hard sometimes to totally see. But certain change comes with big risk. And we think we’re in a good spot.” Considering the state of the roster and focused expectations echoed throughout OTAs, Katie Blackburn feels the decision has panned out thus far. “Obviously, the whole season is ahead of us,” she said. “But I would say that, to their credit, we had a good offseason. I think the team morale is good. I think everyone in the building is optimistic about the season and looking forward to it. Hopefully we’ll see the success we’re hoping to have.” We had thought that Elizabeth Blackburn was doing good things in modernizing the Bengals business and social media side of things. Dale Altman of CincyJungle.comthinks she is becoming involved with the football side of things: In an interview with local media members on Monday (via Paul Dehner), it was announced that Elizabeth Blackburn was recently promoted to Vice President of the Cincinnati Bengals. Her previous title was Director of Strategy and Engagement. She appears to be joining her father, Troy Blackburn, and her uncle, Paul Brown, with the title Vice President. Her mother, Katie, serves as the team’s Executive Vice President. This likely signals that Elizabeth has moved into a more powerful position within the organization. The move comes on the heels of the Bengals operating much differently than they have previously, prior to this offseason. They traded the 10th pick for a proven commodity in Dexter Lawrence. They recently restructured Joe Burrow’s contract to create more cap space for the 2026 season. And they signed several big-name free agents, including Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe. While it is unknown how much impact Elizabeth had in these moves, it appears she is helping the Bengals usher in a more modern approach to roster building. |
| PITTSBURGHQB DREW ALLAR reports that veteran QB AARON RODGERS has indeed been involved with developing the rookie. Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com: The Steelers didn’t bring Aaron Rodgers here to be a quarterback coach. They signed the future Hall of Famer because they believe he gives them their best chance to win right now. But one of the added benefits of having Rodgers in the building has been his willingness to mentor the team’s young quarterbacks. Last season, Rodgers quickly took rookie Will Howard under his wing, offering advice during meetings, practices and film sessions throughout Howard’s challenging first year in the NFL. Through OTAs and mandatory minicamp this spring, third-round pick Drew Allar has already experienced much of the same. The rookie quarterback said Rodgers has become a valuable resource as he navigates the 2026 version of Mike McCarthy’s quarterback school and adjusts to life in the NFL. “Aaron’s been a huge help to not only me but the whole room, but with me specifically,” Allar said during the final week of OTAs at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He’s pulled me aside during practice to talk through some drill work or things to focus on throughout different drills. And in the film room, just pulling or asking me questions of what I was seeing, what I was looking at and why. He’s given me a lot of knowledge, so I’m really excited to keep learning from him. Obviously, he’s one of the best to ever do it in this game, so the opportunity I have is one I’m not going to take for granted. I just learn from him and everybody in that room.” For Allar, those lessons extend beyond simply learning the Steelers’ offense. McCarthy’s quarterback school places a heavy emphasis on fundamentals, defensive recognition and mechanics. For Allar, much of that focus has been on improving his footwork. Rodgers’ career provides a unique example for young quarterbacks, as he famously refined his mechanics early in his career before becoming one of the most accomplished passers in NFL history. And Allar has been able to study that process firsthand. “I mean it was pretty solid,” Allar said. “It’s definitely different because he went through his own transition with his own mechanics. To see where he’s at now in, what is it, Year 22, it’s crazy to see his growth and how much better he’s gotten every year. Even every practice he’s gotten better. You can just see what makes him who he is, the way he approaches the game and approaches each rep.” Rodgers’ arrival was always about helping the Steelers compete in 2025, and now a second attempt in 2026. But much like his impact on Howard a year ago, his presence is also aiding in the development of younger quarterbacks, which is paramount for this franchise. For Allar, this season should be about soaking in everything he can from Rodgers. He’s very much a project, but with the tools at his disposal — including elite size and special arm talent — Allar has a chance to develop into something special. And it certainly helps to learn from one of the best to ever do it. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| TENNESSEERobert Saleh has noticed that we will have to wait an extra week for NFL football this year. Albert Breer of SI.com: A lot of teams shut things down for the summer by the end of last week, but Titans coach Robert Saleh decided to continue his first offseason program in Nashville into this week, the last week allotted for teams to do it. He had an interesting reason—there’s a quirk in the calendar. This is the year we happened to go from having the earliest possible Labor Day (which was Sept. 1, 2025) to having the latest possible Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2026). Labor Day, of course, dictates the start of the NFL season, which always comes the weekend after that, which is why this year we’ll have the latest Super Bowl ever, in the sixth season of the 17-game format. That’ll come on Valentine’s Day in Inglewood. Meanwhile, the end of the previous season determines when teams can start their offseason program. So this is the year the gap between the NFL’s spring and summer is biggest. For that reason, Saleh decided that having a few things this week, just to keep what everyone learned in his first offseason fresh enough in everyone’s minds for camp, would be the smart move. It’s a little thing, sure. And maybe one that only interests me, but one that also could be beneficial for an exceedingly young team. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSOL JOE TIPPMAN, a 2nd rounder in 2023, has his second contract with the Jets. Chris Cwik of YahooSports.com: One of the New York Jets’ bigger draft wins in recent memory is sticking around for the long-term. The team reportedly signed offensive lineman Joe Tippmann to a four-year, $66.4 million deal Monday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move comes as Tippmann was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. He’ll make a guaranteed $39.4 million as part of his new deal, per Rapoport. The 25-year-old Tippmann was originally drafted by the team in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Tippmann has been a consistent starter since then, starting 48 games with the team over his first three seasons in the NFL. Tippmann was initially used as a center in the NFL, but moved to guard in 2025 after Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained an injury prior to Week 1. He received praise for his willingness to change positions, with head coach Aaron Glenn calling Tippmann an “unselfish” player. He graded out OK, according to the advanced metrics. Tippmann ranked 31st at guard in 2025, per PFF. While the Jets experienced a lot of struggles on offense in 2025, the team’s offensive line was a source of consistency. The team started the same group at offensive line in 17 consecutive games. The team will likely move forward with the same — or a very similar — combination moving forward. The Jets did not address offensive line until the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, suggesting the team is happy with its current lineup at the position. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| SORSBY HEADED TO NFLAfter seeing how 99% of the college football world reacted to the ruling by his Texas judge, QB BRENDAN SORSBY. Chris Vannini of The Athletic: Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby plans to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, a source briefed on the situation told The Athletic. The news comes one week after a Lubbock County judge barred the NCAA from preventing Sorsby from playing for violating NCAA gambling rules. But it also comes hours after the Big 12 asked a federal court to allow it to enforce its bylaws and sanction Texas Tech if the Red Raiders played Sorsby this season. The Big 12’s filing said Texas Tech had indicated to the conference in the last week that it intended to play Sorsby, while school officials would only say publicly they were taking things one day at a time. Without Sorsby, Texas Tech will move forward with Will Hammond as its starting quarterback. Hammond has been recovering from an ACL injury suffered last October, but head coach Joey McGuire said last month he expects him to be ready by early in the season. There are aspects of the supplemental draft process Sorsby will have to navigate in order to be approved, according to a source familiar with the process. Is it a sure thing that Sorsby would be welcomed in the NFL? Shouldn’t he be persona non grata there as he was in college football everywhere but Texas Tech? ESPN.com’s experts don’t expect the NFL to have any problem with Sorsby as they answer questions brought up by the news that he’s the NFL’s issue now: How did we get here?Pete Thamel, college football insider: Judge Ken Curry stunned the college football world on June 8 when he granted a temporary injunction that seemed to clear the way for Sorsby to play for Texas Tech in 2026. The blowback was swift from all corners. Almost immediately, fellow Big 12 schools talked about boycotting Tech games, while other athletic departments like Georgia and Nebraska forbid all of their teams from scheduling new games against the Red Raiders. The NCAA used it as Exhibit A for why the Protect College Sports Act needed to be passed. On Monday, the Big 12 filed a federal lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to allow the league to use its bylaws to potentially punish Sorsby. On the same day, the NCAA asked the Lubbock County District Court to rule on its appeal before the college football season starts. Sorsby was initially ruled ineligible by the NCAA after it was discovered he had wagered approximately $90,000 on pro and college sports over four years, including 40 bets involving Indiana football when he was a freshman on the team. He had until June 22 to declare for the NFL supplemental draft, and rather than risk being denied college eligibility after that deadline passed, he decided to make the jump now. Sorsby entered 2026 as one of the most buzzy players in the sport, as he transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech and was expected to be one of the sport’s highest-paid players at more than $5 million. He was ESPN’s No. 1 player in the NCAA transfer portal rankings after throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns for Cincinnati in 2025. How does the supplemental draft work? What does it mean for Sorsby’s eventual contract?Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: The NFL holds a weighted lottery to determine the order of the supplemental draft. So for example, the Raiders (who had the first pick in the April draft) would get 32 hypothetical ping-pong balls, while the Seahawks (who had the 32nd pick) would get one. They actually break it down into three separate lotteries — one to determine the order among all the teams that won six or fewer games last season, a second to determine the order among teams that won more than six but didn’t make the playoffs and a third to determine the order among the playoff teams. Once that order is established, teams submit “bids” on players in whom they’re interested. If, say, the Steelers wanted Sorsby and decided he was worth a third-round pick, they would submit a third-round bid. If no one submitted a first- or second-round bid, and the Steelers were the only third-round bid, they would get him. If there were multiple third-round bids, he would go to the team that finished highest in the lottery order among those teams. In the same example, if the Steelers and Jets both submit third-round bids, the Jets would get him because they would have the higher “pick” in the third round. To be clear, no team has to submit any bids, and if no one does, Sorsby would become an undrafted free agent, free to sign anywhere. The team that is awarded the player forfeits its pick in the equivalent round of next year’s draft. If the Steelers bid a third-round pick on Sorsby and get him, they would give up their third-round pick in the 2027 real draft. Importantly, a team cannot submit a specific-round bid on a player if it does not have a pick in that round next year. The Giants, for instance, can’t submit a fourth-round bid on Sorsby because they do not currently have a fourth-round pick in 2027. Sorsby would get a contract equivalent to what a player picked in the same spot in April’s draft earns. If the Steelers had the 20th pick in the third round of the supplemental draft after the lottery determined the order and selected Sorsby with it, he would get the same contract that Tampa Bay wide receiver Ted Hurst got, since Hurst was selected 20th in the third round in April. (Hurst got a four-year deal worth $6,916,056 with a $1,489,860 signing bonus.) Where does Sorsby stand out, and where does he still need work?Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst: Sorsby finished last season with 2,800 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions, and his 81.5 QBR was 11th in the FBS. He’s a sudden thrower who can operate from all types of body positions and arm slots. His whippy throwing motion helps create plenty of velocity. But because of those standout traits, he tries to fit passes into nonexistent lanes. His confidence in his arm can result in avoidable throws that result in head-scratching turnovers. Sorsby has the talent to be a starting-caliber signal-caller early on in his career. He has the kind of arm power, accuracy and mobility — he also ran for 616 yards and nine scores last season — that becomes highly intriguing for pro teams. What is his supplemental draft value? What are evaluators saying around the league?Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Sorsby would enter the draft with sizable value to teams. Several execs I spoke with over the past few weeks agree that he’s worth a second-round pick in the supplemental draft. One AFC executive predicted Sorsby would have been a late-first-rounder if he were available in April’s traditional draft — but the last supplemental draft to garner a first-rounder was 1992 (quarterback Dave Brown). “An excellent easy thrower with the ability to make every throw,” an NFC exec said. “Big, good athlete, can go off-schedule, can rush for touchdowns in short-yardage or goal-line situations. Lots of highlights. Would like more consistency, but a first-round talent for sure.” One more team executive noted that Sorsby is a good game manager and decision-maker with an above-average arm. Where would he have ranked in the 2026 class if he had declared? 2027?Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst: In conversations with scouts before the NFL’s mid-January deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2026 draft, many believed that Sorsby would have been a high Round 1 pick. He would not have been drafted ahead of eventual No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, but in what was seen as a weak class at the position, he would have been ranked ahead of Ty Simpson — the QB2 and eventual No. 13 overall pick — on most boards. The 2027 class offers more known talent, but before reports of Sorbsy’s gambling situation, he was ranked as my No. 3 overall quarterback behind only Arch Manning (Texas) and Dante Moore (Oregon). Which NFL teams should be interested?Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Eight come to mind. The Cardinals are the most obvious choice, as they don’t have an exciting starting option on the roster. Veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II are known QB2 types, while third-round rookie Carson Beck doesn’t project as a high-end starter. Sorsby would easily clear Beck as the potential franchise passer. However, the Cardinals might not wish to spend any 2027 capital as they gear up for a bigger swing in the upcoming draft. The Browns are in a similar boat. The Jets intend on starting Geno Smith and have fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik, but Sorsby is far more exciting as a developmental player. The Dolphins made a two-year commitment to Malik Willis, but he is far from a sure bet; Sorsby would give them another roll of the dice. The same is true for Atlanta, where Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are fighting to see who gets a chance to hold on to the job beyond 2026. And finally, even more teams can field a developmental QB2 behind an aging passer or starter with an expiring contract. The Steelers obviously need a plan at QB for 2027 and beyond after Aaron Rodgers retires. The Colts might need a plan, as Daniel Jones’ two-year contract has a trapdoor after 2026 should his rehab from the Achilles injury go poorly. The Vikings have Kyler Murray secured for only one season and probably want more longer-term options beyond J.J. McCarthy. That’s a quarter of the league right there. I didn’t even include the Buccaneers, who have one year left on Baker Mayfield’s deal, or the Panthers, who have only Kenny Pickett and Will Grier behind Bryce Young right now. When quarterbacks with NFL size, NFL arm talent and NFL movement skills become available, depth charts that were previously endorsed by coaches suddenly become more tenuous. On talent alone, there should be a robust market for Sorsby in the supplemental draft — but of course, his unique case is not just about talent. How has the NFL approached NCAA players with gambling violations in the past?David Purdum, sports betting reporter: Quarterback Hunter Dekkers and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte were both found to have committed gambling violations while playing college football, and both were allowed to pursue NFL careers. Dekkers was the projected starting quarterback at Iowa State but was ruled ineligible ahead of the 2023 season after an investigation found he had bet on at least one game involving the Cyclones (among other wagers that violated NCAA bylaws). The bet was just $15 on Iowa State to beat Oklahoma State in a 2021 game in which he did not play, but it led to the end of his Division I career. He played one season at Iowa Western Community College in 2024 before signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent, and he spent last season on the practice squad. Boutte was arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in January 2024 on charges of underage betting while at LSU. The arrest came roughly eight months after he had been drafted in Round 6 by the Patriots, and the charges were ultimately dropped. According to police, Boutte placed more than 8,900 wagers from April 2022 to May 2023, including betting on at least 17 college football games — at least six of which involved LSU during that span. The NFL did not discipline Boutte. What now for Texas Tech?Max Olson, college football reporter: Even without Sorsby, the Red Raiders still like their chances of defending their Big 12 title and making another College Football Playoff run. Will Hammond will take over as their starting QB, and coach Joey McGuire has a ton of faith in his ability and long-term potential. The third-year sophomore is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last October and might not be ready to start Week 1, but this offense is loaded around him with a one of the top running back trios in college football, proven pass catchers in Terrance Carter Jr. and Coy Eakin, and three returning starters on the offensive line. Texas Tech’s defense has plenty of star power as well, with A.J. Holmes Jr., Ben Roberts, John Curry and Brice Pollock back from the No. 3 scoring defense in FBS last season. Tech also landed high-profile transfers to help replace David Bailey and three more NFL draft picks on the defensive line. Sorsby would’ve raised this team’s ceiling as a national title contender, but a healthy Hammond is more than capable of leading the Red Raiders back to the CFP. Mike Florio with more on how Sorsby does anticipate some issues with the NFL – and how he’s paying a notorious pitbull lawyer to push any objections aside: In the end, quarterback Brendan Sorsby will never play for Texas Tech. Via NFL Network, Sorsby on Tuesday will dismiss the lawsuit in Lubbock County, Texas that gave him a temporary injunction restoring his NCAA eligibility for 2026. This will wipe out his eligibility for play for Texas Tech, making him eligible to enter the NFL supplemental draft. It’s an important step. If he’s still eligible to play college football, the NFL would have been able to easily say he’s not eligible to enter the supplemental draft. That doesn’t mean he’ll gain easy entrance to the NFL via the supplemental draft. The Terrelle Pryor precedent from 2011 shows that the league is willing and able to create a sanction to mirror NCAA punishment. And it would be very easy for the NFL, if it chooses, to declare that Sorsby’s pattern of underage gambling and gambling on his team creates a threat to the integrity of the game — even if he has never violated a single NFL policy. So this isn’t the end of the road for Sorsby. In some ways, it’s only the beginning.– – –When quarterback Brendan Sorsby hired attorney Jeffrey Kessler in May, the move had a dual purpose. Kessler has, for years, given both the NCAA and the NFL fits in court. From our initial item regarding the impact of the move on a potential decision to enter the supplemental draft: “That makes Kessler’s presence even more relevant. He also has been a thorn in the NFL’s side for decades, and Kessler could (if Sorsby’s eligibility isn’t restored) attempt to force the NFL to give him immediate entry with a clean slate.” Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Kessler has already begun to attempt to ensure that the league won’t impose roadblocks on Sorsby’s effort to join the NFL. The league could try to reject his application for the supplemental draft. The league could try to suspend Sorsby, concocting an outcome rooted in the integrity of the NFL’s gambling policies. When Commissioner Roger Goodell duplicated the five-game suspension that the NCAA had imposed on Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a third-round pick of the Raiders in the 2011 supplemental draft, Goodell expressly cited the “integrity of, and public confidence in” the league’s eligibility rules. Goodell also wrote this at the time, regarding Pryor: “In my judgment, allowing players to secure their own ineligibility for college play in order to avoid previously determined disciplinary consequences for admitted conduct reflects poorly not on college football — which acted to discipline the transgressor — but on the NFL, by making it into a sanctuary where a player cannot only avoid the consequences of his conduct, but be paid for doing so.” The NFL could apply that same reasoning to Sorsby, under the notion that Sorsby ultimately used the NFL as a “sanctuary where a player cannot only avoid the consequences of his conduct.” For now, we’re told that multiple teams are concerned that Goodell will impose a significant suspension on Sorsby. Kessler’s job now pivots to trying to keep that from happening. |
