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    Report: NFL declining to hold supplemental draft

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    ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports the NFL is declining to hold a supplemental draft this summer.

    Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby was the only applicant for the supplemental draft and the league decided to punt him to the 2027 NFL Draft, noting in a letter to Sorsby “The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented.” The letter also says that “after receiving notice of the NCAA’s decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions, and you pursued entry into the NFL only after abandoning those efforts.” It doesn’t seem like the NFL was very interested in Brendan Sorsby’s supplemental draft storyline existing, so they simply decided not to let it awaken here. Where this leaves Sorsby this year is up for debate, but seemingly this ends the NFL storyline for the 2026 season barring more litigation.
Week 6 brings rare feat for two NFL divisions
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    Archer cites multiple sources on this one. Sorsby’s gambling issues were reportedly not enough to dissuade the Cowboys from considering him as a potential long-term replacement for QB Dak Prescott, who turns 33 next week and is signed through 2028. In the end, the NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft this year, preventing the Cowboys from potentially drafting him at “a lower-than-expected price.” Perhaps they will revisit the idea next offseason.
  • The NFL, NFLPA and Sorsby combined to reach a settlement wherein Sorsby resolves any claims on the league not holding a supplemental draft in exchange for being eligible for the 2027 draft with no additional discipline for any prior conduct. That last bit of the sentence is the key part, enabling teams to select him in 2027 without fear of a suspension. (Barring new evidence, of course.) It never made much sense for Sorsby to try to test the NFL given how easy it would have been for the league to retaliate against him. This is probably a pretty decent outcome for him, all things considered. We have no idea where or how he’ll play in 2026 at this point, but he figures to be a risky Day 2 pick if he can’t show improvement on some football field.
  • The league released a statement saying, “Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL. The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning. At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiations list.” It’s yet another closed door for Sorsby, who learned earlier this week that the NFL was declining to hold a supplemental draft, which would have given teams a chance to select him as he makes his late departure from college to the NFL. While it’s still possible Sorsby sues the league in hopes of having that decision overturned, it seems increasingly likely that he won’t have many suitors at any level for the 2026 football season, meaning he will most likely be setting his sights on prepping for the 2027 NFL Draft.
  • By declining to hold a supplemental draft for Brendan Sorsby, the NFL appears to have ruffled the litigation hornet’s nest. Kessler said that he will “pursue this immediately with the NFLPA.” Where this leads from here, beyond several attorney’s fees, is unknown. The NFL asserted “sole discretion to determine whether it is appropriate to conduct a Supplemental Draft in any given year” in their letter to Sorsby that was leaked earlier today. Well, this’ll give us something to blurb about for the next month or so anyway. It’s worth pointing out that the NFL has not taken kindly to past litigation against it by Brian Flores and that it’s possible that a ruling in favor of Sorsby may not necessarily end with him being drafted.
  • The person is quoted as saying the Jets “don’t want to deal with it.” Sorsby will probably be picked in the NFL’s supplemental draft, but considering how late he’s going to finally walk in the building, it wouldn’t be surprising if it were a team that could afford a redshirt year rather than a team with a legitimate hole at the position like the Jets or Browns. Jets coach Aaron Glenn deflected a question about Sorsby earlier this week, saying that he’s “focused on the guys that we have here now.”
  • Solak is among the NFL analysts identifying the Cardinals as a prime landing spot for Sorsby, who will enter the league’s supplemental draft after forgoing his final collegiate season following a sports betting scandal. The weak-armed Beck, selected by Arizona with the 65th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, would have little chance of holding off Sorsby this season if the Cards bring in Sorsby, who was graded by Pro Football Focus as the eighth best passer in the nation last year. In Arizona, the dual-threat Sorsby — he had 18 rushing touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons — would have a real chance at fantasy relevance unless the Cardinals are intent on wasting an entire season with Jacoby Brissett under center.
  • Yates said Sorsby might have been taken as a top-10 draft pick in 2027 had he remained at Texas Tech this season instead of entering the NFL’s supplemental draft following his sports betting scandal. Yates mentioned the Jets, Cardinals, and Brown as potential suitors for Sorsby, though Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported on Tuesday that the Browns were “unlikely” to pursue Sorsby in the supplemental draft. Yates, who complimented Sorsby’s running ability and “moxy,” predicted Sorsby would be selected in the second round of the supplemental draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler recently guessed a team would part ways with a Day Three pick to land Sorsby. Sorsby in 2025 ranked eighth in PFF’s passing grades while posting the nation’s second lowest pressure to sack ratio. He ranked 106th in adjusted completion rate.
  • “With improvements in those areas as a senior in college, teams expected him to be in the first-round conversation in the 2027 draft class. But the gambling cloud hanging over his draft projection makes this an unprecedented situation. Is there enough time before July’s supplemental draft for teams to fully understand his recovery and mindset?” Brugler adds. Brugler’s been in the draft game for a long time and has a lot of sources, so we believe this carries some weight even if it wouldn’t be wildly surprising to see Sorsby selected in the second or third round of the supplemental draft. It’s clear that Sorsby has the tools to play in the NFL and also clear that gambling is a line that many franchises will refuse to cross, but it only takes one.
  • Most of the league-wide scuttlebutt on Sorsby as coaches get in front of microphones for the first time since it was announced he’ll try the supplemental draft has been negative or tepid. Todd Monken told reporters earlier in June that “I don’t think we’re in a position to want to go down that road,” when asked about Sorsby. Today, Aaron Glenn pretended he didn’t know what gambling was and Brian Schottenheimer said he has no opinion on Sorsby. We’ll see where he ends up, but it sure doesn’t look like it will be Cleveland.
  • Sorsby has been the subject of numerous legal battles within the NCAA ranks amidst a betting scandal this offseason. It appears as if he has decided to move on from the cyclone he created in favor of trying his hand at the professional level. The NFL will need to approve his eligibility first and foremost before a supplemental draft would be held, during which teams would submit blind bids for any approved players. That number would stand at one, if Sorsby is approved, but it provides an interesting wrinkle to an otherwise lackluster quarterback draft class in an offseason with no shortage of quarterback-needy teams. Widely considered a surefire first-round pick, and potentially the No. 1 overall pick, Sorsby should drum up significant interest in the coming month if he gains eligibility. Teams would bid on Sorsby with associated draft picks in the coming draft, sorted by round. A winning team would then forfeit that round’s pick in the following draft.

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    Evan Engram caught both targets for 13 yards in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Engram has not seen more than five targets in a game this season and has been held out of the end zone since Week 1, making him a difficult start in fantasy leagues of all sizes. He can safely remain on the bench in an enticing matchup against the Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #14
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    Courtland Sutton caught 2-of-3 targets for 19 yards in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Nix’s only incompletion when targeting Sutton resulted in the veteran receiver getting rocked over the middle of the field on a ball Nix led him directly into oncoming contact. Sutton vented his frustration by repeatedly pounding the ground following the hit, with it unclear whether it was due to the hit or the incompletion on third down on a night the Broncos struggled to move the football to the tune of only 168 yards of total offense. Fantasy managers likely aren’t utilizing Sutton as a weekly option, but will want to track his practice status ahead of a Week 7 meeting with the Cardinals if bye week fill-ins are required.
  • DEN Running Back #12
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    RJ Harvey rushed six times for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks, adding 31 yards on three receptions.

    The fact that the 31 yards through the air led the team in receiving is a comment on the state of an offense that gained only 168 yards of total offense against the defending Super Bowl Champions. Even so, a relentlessly aggressive defense willed the team to victory behind a consistently positive game script, which allowed J.K. Dobbins to handily lead the backfield in opportunities. Harvey remains a matchup-dependent fantasy option best utilized in trailing game environments, which is unlikely to be the case when the Broncos face the struggling Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Running Back #27
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    J.K. Dobbins rushed 17 times for 41 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Dobbins found little room to run on a night the Broncos gained only 168 yards of total offense but handily led the backfield in opportunities in what was a consistently positive game script due to the dominance of their defense. Dobbins has now failed to eclipse a modest 50 yards on the ground in four of five appearances but might be useful as a bye week fill-in when the Broncos travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
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    Bo Nix completed 17-of-27 passes for 107 yards in the Broncos’ 17-14, Week 6 win over the Seahawks, adding two yards on four carries.

    The Broncos managed just 168 yards of total offense on a night their defense carried them to victory in overtime. Nine of the Broncos’ 11 possessions, excluding the two kneel downs to end each half, ended in punts on drives that lasted five plays or fewer. Two second quarter touchdown drives had the Broncos playing with a lead for much of the game but they were otherwise unable to move the football with any consistency. An overtime interception by nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian allowed for a game-winning, 53-yard field goal from kicker Will Lutz after the Broncos again failed to gain a first down. The win sends Denver to 4-2 while averaging only 18.7 points per game through six weeks. The team gets a scheduling gift with the Cardinals on deck in Week 7, although Nix cannot be treated as a starter-worthy fantasy asset outside of the deepest leagues.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
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    Cooper Kupp caught 5-of-10 targets for 50 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Kupp’s 10 targets finished second on the team behind alpha Jaxon Smith-Njigba but were largely a product of 51 Sam Darnold pass attempts in game that had all the ingredients for increased pass volume, including an inability to run the football, negative game script, and overtime. It continues to appear as if Kupp’s fantasy-relevant days are far behind him, with the veteran best left on the waiver wire ahead of a Week 7 showdown against the Chiefs on deck.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #22
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    Rashid Shaheed caught 5-of-8 targets for 66 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos, adding two yards on one carry.

    Shaheed’s eight targets were a product of 51 Sam Darnold pass attempts in a game the Seahawks could not find any room to run on the ground. He lost a fumble on a fluke play in the second quarter in which he rolled over the tackling defender, only for the defender’s knee to knock the football loose before Shaheed’s rear end touched the playing surface. he would fumble a punt return in the fourth quarter but easily had time to regain control before the ball was in real trouble. Shaheed remains the third option through the air for an offense typically not seeing this level of volume, making him a touchdown-or-bust fantasy option, for the time being. That doesn’t change ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Chiefs in Seattle.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #11
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    Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 12-of-16 targets for 134 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Smith-Njigba overcame a sluggish first half to extend his stranglehold on the overall WR1 in fantasy circles with a dominant second half and overtime period. While the 51 pass attempts from Sam Darnold were highly uncharacteristic of this Seattle offense, a complete inability to run the football paired with a negative script to form the perfect environment for Smith-Njigba to set a season high in targets and receptions. Smith-Njigba has now gone over 100 yards in five of six appearances to start the 2026 regular season and is in a good spot to continue that dominance when the Seahawks host the Chiefs in Week 7, where he remains a top-tier WR1 in fantasy circles.
  • SEA Running Back #36
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    George Holani rushed five times for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Holani split primary change of pace duties with recent practice squad call-up Velus Jones Jr, the latter of whom turned four carries into 20 yards while losing one yard on his lone reception. Both backs appear unlikely to return fantasy value as Zach Charbonnet nears a return from injured reserve.
  • SEA Running Back #23
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    Emanuel Wilson rushed 14 times for 52 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Wilson is now down to just 3.4 yards per carry while filling in for numerous key injuries in the Seattle backfield, with the team clearly waiting with bated breath for the return of Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet continues to inch closer to a return from injured reserve and appears likely to bring an end to the Wilson experiment, relegating the latter to bench fodder in fantasy circles in the process. That could come a early a Week 7 when the Seahawks host the Chiefs.