Arizona Cardinals
· 2026-07-06
The Arizona Cardinals will have to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft to pursue quarterback Brendan Sorsby after the league decided not to hold a supplemental draft.
The NFL announced on June 23 that it will not hold a supplemental draft, making Sorsby ineligible to play in the league in 2026.
The decision comes after Sorsby applied for the supplemental draft following a lawsuit against the NCAA.
The Cardinals have been interested in Sorsby due to their current quarterback situation, with no clear-cut candidate to call their next franchise quarterback.
They have two veteran backups, Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, but Brissett is in the middle of a contract squabble with the team.
Sorsby had hoped to stage a pro day event for NFL teams on or around July 10, but the league's decision scraps that plan for now.
The Cardinals drafted Carson Beck out of Miami in the third round of this year's draft, but they still might have had their eyes on Sorsby.
As of now, the Cardinals stand 8th in the American Football Conference with an 8-9 record, on a L7 streak, and are set to play their next game against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13, 2026.
And with the supplemental draft off the table, Sorsby's options are limited, and he cannot be signed as a free agent.
But Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told ESPN that the decision is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement and the law.
The Cardinals will have to focus on their current roster and wait until the 2027 NFL Draft to pursue Sorsby or other quarterback prospects.
The team's current standing and record will likely play a role in their decision-making process for the upcoming season.
So the Cardinals will have to look elsewhere for quarterback help, at least for the 2026 season.
The NFL's decision on the supplemental draft has significant implications for the Cardinals and other teams interested in Sorsby.
The league's management council told Sorsby to focus on preparing for the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.
The council's letter to Sorsby stated that the league had no plans to hold a supplemental draft prior to his submission.
The issues presented by Sorsby's petition were too significant and too closely tied to the league's core integrity interests.
The Cardinals will have to wait and see how the quarterback situation plays out for the 2026 season.