Shedeur Sanders in fresh competition as Browns to look at drafting ‘fascinating’ QB facing lifetime ban

Brendan Sorsby’s college career appears over, but the Cleveland Browns could hand him a lifeline.

The Texas Tech quarterback has seen a request to reinstate his eligibility for the 2026 season denied by the NCAA, amid what his school president has described as a ‘complex situation.’

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Sorsby recently filed suit against the NCAA, with the goal both of securing his reinstatement and of getting a decision that would allow him to apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft before the June 22 deadline.

A hearing has been set for June 1.

Sorsby is set to return to campus in the upcoming days, having completed a 35-day in-patient rehab for his gambling addiction.

“We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified,” Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec wrote in a letter to then community, adding that the school planned to appeal the ruling.

“As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular.

“The NCAA’s stated mission includes ‘fosterin lifelong well-being,’ and they have claimed their goal is to promote a ‘culture of care’ for student athletes’ mental health.

“Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.”

While Texas Tech has publicly backed Sorsby’s desire to play in college again, the Browns are said to be interested in bringing him to the NFL.

Cleveland Browns taking hard look at controversial college QB

If the 22-year-old signal caller, who played two seasons with Cincinnati, declares himself eligible for a summer supplemental draft before the June deadline, he will have time in July to work out with teams.

Any interested party can then bid a 2027 draft pick in the hopes of landing Sorsby, and the team that puts in the highest offer will win his rights.

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Sports Illustrated’s senior writer Albert Breer believes the Browns will be one team ‘taking a hard look’ at the prospect, who threw for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Bearcats last year.

“If you’re going to draft Brendan Sorsby, you should do it with the idea that this is going to be a redshirt year for him,” Breer told
92.3 The Fan.

“If you get him… maybe there’s some sort of NFL suspension, I’m not sure how they’re going to work that.

“You would hope this would be treated like a drug suspension, where you have the guy in the building and he can be doing some work with your people. So you get to know him, and get a head start in what would be his rookie year in 2027.

“I think he’s fascinating, there are people who I really respect who think he could be a top five pick next year.

“He’s got all the talent in the world. He still has a ways to go developmentally, but just from an arm talent standpoint, you hear Caleb Williams, Zach Wilson, Pat Mahomes type of talent where he can get so much juice on the ball and throw from different arm slots.

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“Really, really, interesting prospect.

“I think the teams that kept their powder dry as far as picking a quarterback this year, I am talking about the Jets, the Browns, the Dolphins and the Cardinals, all those teams should be taking a hard look at him.

“And I think all those teams will be taking a hard look at him.”

Sorsby’s talent, according to Breer, is evident. And he could be the perfect prospect for Cleveland to position as their franchise quarterback next year.

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Heading into 2026, the Browns are holding another quarterback battle, with their Week 1 starter still to be decided.

Browns could trade QB who ‘failed to move needle’

It’s said to be a tight race between $230 million veteran Deshaun Watson, and second year star Shedeur Sanders.

Dillon Gabriel is also in the building to compete, but according to one NFL analyst, could soon find himself packing up his locker.

“Gabriel failed to move the needle once he was handed the starting job in Week 5, completing a meagre 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards and seven touchdowns across six starts,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote Tuesday.

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“While he kept his turnovers under control — tossing just two picks on the year — Gabriel only spurred the Browns to victory in a single contest.

“Gabriel’s best chance of sticking around will be as a third-stringer. But Cleveland added a promising sixth-round rookie in Taylen Green who makes more sense to develop in that role.

“Cleveland should instead look to recoup some capital and ship Gabriel off to a less crowded quarterbacks room.”

Should Gabriel depart, there would perhaps be room for Sorsby to arrive — but only if the Browns want to take a big swing on an exciting talent who faces a ban from college ball.

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