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Brendan Sorsby could be a candidate for the Cardinals this summer.

The Arizona Cardinals missed out on Alabama quarterback Ty Simoson in the 2026 NFL Draft, and instead took Miami’s Carson Beck in the third round. Beck now joins a quarterback room that already features Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, but could a fourth player enter the equation this summer? 

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who is under investigation for gambling, could head for the NFL’s Supplemental Draft if he loses his NCAA eligibility. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter explained how the highly-touted passer might end up on an NFL team this summer. 

“Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, who is under NCAA investigation for making bets via a gambling app, has retained the noted lawyer Jeffrey Kessler to try to regain his college eligibility, sources tell me and @PeteThamel,” wrote Schefter. 

“If Sorsby and Kessler are unsuccessful in finding a path to eligibility, declaring for the NFL’s supplemental draft then would become an option. Sorsby would have until June 30 to declare for the supplemental draft.”

If Sorsby does opt for the NFL Supplementary Draft route, could the Cardinals be an option?

Brendan Sorsby Could Be the Franchise QB the Cardinals Have Been Seeking

Sorsby is regarded as a potential first-round draft pick after throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for another 580 yards and nine touchdowns last season with Cincinnati. He transferred to Texas Tech this spring, but is now entangled in a gambling investigation that could cloud his future. 

Should he decide to pursue the NFL Supplementary Draft, Sorsby would be one of the highest-drafted supplementary players of all time. Any NFL team who uses a pick on a player will lose that round’s pick in the following NFL Draft. Regardless of the risk, there are some who want to see Arizona take a chance on the signal caller. 

Bo Brack, PHNX_Cardinals Podcast host, floated the idea this week. 

“A lot to sort out with Brendon Sorsby, but if he enters the Supplemental Draft, the Cardinals need to take a look –NFL arm and size at 6’3, 230 & rushed for over 1,300 yards in college,” he wrote.

“Cards need to exhaust all resources searching for the next franchise QB.”

The Cardinals Backup Draft Plans Led them to Carson Beck

While Arizona wasn’t going to select Simpson at No. 3, they might have jumped at the chance if they could’ve traded back. General manager Monti Ossenfort revealed to Sirius XM that it was just never an option. 

“For this year, there wasn’t a ton of interest in people coming up to number three, and I don’t know why that was,” said Ossenfort. “And you know every draft is different, and people have different motivations. Whenever you go into a draft, you have to be prepared to pick and you have to be prepared to have options, and if there’s no option you’re ready to pick a player.” 

Ultimately, the Cardinals settled on Beck in the third-round. And although Beck represents a potential future, the Cardinals may have a hard time ignoring Sorsby if the opportunity arises this summer. 

Trevor Ripley Trevor Ripley is a Heavy writer covering the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. More about Trevor Ripley