Detroit Lions
· 2026-07-02
The Detroit Lions are considering Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the NFL supplemental draft.
Sorsby applied for the draft after winning an injunction to play college football in 2026, despite being suspended by the NCAA for betting on college football games.
The Lions had five players suspended in 2023 for violating the NFL's gambling policy, but coach Dan Campbell says this will not affect their interest in Sorsby.
Campbell stated that general manager Brad Holmes looks at everything, and nothing is off the docket.
The Lions have had little success developing a young backup quarterback in recent years, with Jared Goff entrenched as the starting quarterback.
Veteran Teddy Bridgewater took most of the second-team reps during workouts this spring, while undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer served as the No. 3 quarterback.
The NFL will hold a weighted lottery to determine the order of selection if Sorsby is approved for the draft, with the 10 teams that won six or fewer games last season making up the first 10 picks.
The Lions, currently standing 1st in the American Football Conference with a 14-3 record and on a W2 streak, will have to decide whether to bid for Sorsby in the draft.
Their next game is against the New Orleans Saints on 2026-09-13.
The Lions have all seven of their original picks in next year's draft, plus an extra seventh-round pick they acquired in the David Montgomery trade.
If any team drafts Sorsby, it would forfeit the corresponding choice in next year's draft.
Sorsby threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns at Cincinnati last season, before transferring to Texas Tech.
His agent Ron Slavin said Sorsby decided to apply for the draft because Texas Tech faced backlash for its decision to fight his NCAA suspension.
The Lions have made one supplemental draft choice in franchise history, taking North Carolina A&T defensive back Kevin Robinson in the ninth round of the 1982 supplemental draft.