After weeks of speculation about whether Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby could become a late draft target for the Pittsburgh Steelers, those discussions are now over. The embattled QB is set to return to Texas Tech for the upcoming college football season. Sorsby won his injunction against the NCAA's ruling and is expected to start for the Red Raiders' highly productive offense.
Initially, Sorsby was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after admitting that he had been gambling throughout his college career. He entered rehab following the incident and fought hard to preserve his college football career. That effort paid off, allowing him to rebuild both his personal image and his reputation as a quarterback ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
The extra time could ultimately help his development, but it also carries the risk of hurting his draft stock if things do not go as planned next season.
He will serve only a two-game suspension for the gambling violation, which should be viewed as a huge break from Sorsby's perspective. The alternative would have been entering the NFL Supplemental Draft, where he could have either been selected surprisingly high or gone completely undrafted. Either way, this outcome is a massive win for Sorsby, but it also represents a missed opportunity for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers might've missed massive opportunity to draft Brendan Sorsby
While adding Sorsby to the Steelers' current roster didn't make much sense on paper, the possibility could never be completely ruled out. It is rare for a highly productive quarterback prospect to suddenly become available under unexpected circumstances.
Had he entered the Supplemental Draft, it would have created an intriguing scenario for Pittsburgh as the franchise continues its search for a long-term answer at quarterback.
At the end of the day, this situation could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Steelers and any other NFL team that had interest in Sorsby. His gambling issue raised legitimate concerns and nearly led to this outcome in the first place. There is no question that the quarterback possesses plenty of talent, which will always attract scouts, but the off-the-field concerns are significant.
Having Will Howard and Drew Allar on the roster also would have reduced the chances of the Steelers selecting Sorsby in the Supplemental Draft if it had come to that.
Sorsby may have a high ceiling, but both Howard and Allar have received strong praise from the organization. Adding Sorsby to the mix would likely have forced Pittsburgh to carry four quarterbacks on the roster, with three of them lacking any NFL experience.
All of the Brendan Sorsby speculation can now be put to rest for the Steelers. If he performs at a high level at Texas Tech, he could generate significant attention when the 2027 NFL Draft arrives. Pittsburgh, along with several other NFL teams, may still have a strong interest in him despite missing the opportunity to acquire him this summer. It also gives teams more time to determine whether his gambling issues are actually behind him before giving a chance.
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