The Green Bay Packers lost their final realistic opportunity to add a young backup quarterback this offseason when the NFL announced it will not conduct a supplemental draft in 2026. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who declared for the draft after the regular draft period, received a letter from the league’s management council on Tuesday denying his petition. The decision affects Green Bay’s quarterback depth plans and forces the front office to explore the position again next offseason.

As it stands right now, Brendan Sorsby's lost more than $4 million he stood to make at Texas Tech this fall, and the chance to play his way into the Top 5 of next year's draft (which could be worth $50 million guaranteed). Legal costs are mounting too.

We'll see what's next … https://t.co/hLcX3vW6Jq

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 23, 2026

What the league said

The NFL’s management council sent Sorsby a letter referencing his June 16 petition for special eligibility.

“We are in receipt of your petition for special eligibility dated June 16, 2026. As announced earlier today, the league has elected not to conduct a supplemental draft this year.”

That closes the door on Sorsby playing in the 2026 NFL season entirely. He will instead enter the regular 2027 NFL Draft.

Why this matters for the Packers

Green Bay lost quarterback Malik Willis in free agency earlier this offseason and replaced him with veteran Tyrod Taylor. While the 36-year-old Taylor is a solid backup for this season, he is not a long-term option behind Jordan Love. Sorsby would have represented a chance to address that need a year early. And general manager Brian Gutekunst follows Ron Wolf’s model of adding quarterbacks whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The Packers also had the draft capital to make a competitive bid. Because they traded Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason, Green Bay holds an extra fourth-round pick, which could have been deployed in a supplemental draft scenario.

During the brief window when Sorsby appeared headed for the supplemental draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler listed the Packers as one of the top landing spots during an episode of “The Athletic Football Show.” Brugler’s comments were analytical rather than a report, but the context around them carried weight. Throughout the podcast, Brugler noted some teams viewed Sorsby as untouchable because of his off-field history. The fact that Brugler still listed Green Bay as a potential destination after acknowledging that dynamic could be a telling hint about the Packers’ level of interest.

Sorsby’s background

Sorsby played four college football seasons, spending two at Indiana and two at Cincinnati, starting 35 games. He was involved in a gambling scandal, betting on Indiana’s games while he played for the Hoosiers. He eventually regained his eligibility through the legal system and was set to play for Texas Tech in 2026, but he chose to end his college career and pursue the NFL instead.

With the supplemental draft off the table, Sorsby’s options are limited. The UFL season is over, and he cannot play in the NFL this year. Returning to college appears unlikely at this point. The most probable scenario is that Sorsby sits out the 2026 season and prepares for the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Packers will roll with Love and Taylor at quarterback this season. Meanwhile, Gutekunst will likely revisit the backup quarterback position next offseason, whether through the 2027 draft or free agency. The class projects as a strong one at the position, so options should be available.

Sorsby could re-enter the conversation at that point, though his off-field history and a full year away from football may affect how teams evaluate him. For now, Green Bay’s best chance at a long-term answer behind Love will have to wait.