The Minnesota Vikings already made arguably the best value play of the entire offseason by securing Kyler Murray for the league minimum, but an even more promising QB prospect has come into view.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated dug into the intriguing case of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who recently checked himself into an inpatient treatment facility, citing a gambling addiction, after revelations that he bet on Indiana games while a backup quarterback with the school as a true freshman in 2022.
Reporting around the situation indicates that Sorsby never played in any game on which he wagered, and he always bet on the Hoosiers to win. Regardless, his actions were blatant violations of NCAA rules. Thus, Sorsby’s eligibility, along with $5 million Texas Tech intended to pay him, are both likely out the window.
Breer noted that Sorsby could file an injunction in an attempt to play for the Red Raiders in 2026. However, another option is the NFL’s supplemental draft over the summer.
“The supplemental draft has, of late, become obsolete, because the transfer portal gives options to players without a home, [and] NIL gets those players the money they could once only land in the pros (by rule, anyway),” Breer wrote Tuesday, April 28. “In fact, the past two summers, the exercise, which usually takes place in early July, was canceled because no players declared for it.”
But Sorsby — who Breer said has drawn comparisons from execs to players like Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Caleb Williams — may have real cause and motivation to pursue a path to the league via the supplemental draft.
And, if he does, the Vikings profile as a team that could, and very much should, be interested.
Vikings Face Longterm QB Uncertainty, Even After Signing Kyler Murray
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler entering his age-29 campaign, is likely to begin the year as QB1 in Minnesota. If he stays healthy, regardless of how he plays, Murray’s presence in the starting lineup probably means the end of JJ McCarthy in purple and gold.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, McCarthy started 10 games last season. He had a few great moments with some heroics in road wins over the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, but he largely disappointed.
Former general manager Kwesi Adofo Mensah’s decision to let Sam Darnold walk in favor of McCarthy ended up costing Adofo-Mensah his job. Head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t going out the same way. Hence, the Vikings’ decisions to sign Murray and reunite with Carson Wentz.
But the future, Wentz is not. If Murray doesn’t succeed in what will be an altered version of O’Connell’s traditional offensive system, he probably won’t be back in 2027 after hitting unrestricted free agency next spring. And if Murray does succeed, he’s still liable to test the market and could end up elsewhere depending on his cost.
The majority of likely scenarios actually result in the Vikings looking for longterm answers at the quarterback position again next offseason.
Even in a best-case scenario, in which Murray plays incredibly well and re-signs a multiyear contract, he is still an undersized player with a long history of injury concerns. As such, a quality backup like Sorsby with comparable traits to the NFL’s elite quarterbacks for the price a mid-round draft pick is an opportunity the Vikings shouldn’t pass up.
Vikings Can Likely Get Better Value on Brendan Sorsby in Supplemental NFL Draft Than on Rookie QB in 2027
GettyTexas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
The supplemental draft operates via a bidding system. Thus, the Vikings could enter a bid of a third-round pick for Sorsby. Should that bid win, he would head to Minnesota for training camp in July and the Vikings would forfeit that selection in the 2027 draft.
“The guy’s pretty good; he would’ve had a good chance of being right there with [Fernando] Mendoza,” an AFC executive told Breer. “If he came out in the supplemental, it would depend if you felt like you needed a quarterback. But if the Cardinals think he’s that good, why not take him in the second round? Just from the limited tape I saw, he looked better than Ty [Simpson].”
The need across the league at quarterback never really diminishes, and a team like Arizona could drive the price up for Sorsby. The math is also a bit tricky for the Vikings, given they may have a longterm starter in Murray and because the 2027 class is full of elite talent across several positions, including quarterback.
But even with poor-to-mediocre QB play last year, Minnesota was able to eke out a 9-8 record. It is unlikely the team will pick inside the top five, or even the top 10, given its recent track record and the talent across the roster and coaching staff.
That should mean a player of Sorsby’s talent level is worth at least a bid of a second- or third-rounder in 2027, given the quality of QB the Vikings are likely to find in next year’s draft by way of the traditional process.
Sorsby threw for 2,800 yards, 27 TDs and five INTs on 61.6 percent passing across 12 games at Cincinnati in 2025.
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