Brendan Sorsby Got DENIED From The Draft and The NFL's Own Rulebook Has No Answer

Okay, Seattle, you are NOT gonna believe this one. You know we bleed green and blue for our Hawks, and we expect the league to play fair, right? Well, buckle up, because the NFL just pulled a move that has me absolutely fuming. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a dude who could have been a solid pick for someone, was just blocked from the supplemental draft. And get this: the reasons they gave for shutting him out? My buddy Mike Florio over at Pro Football Talk is saying it straight up, the league’s explanation arguably finds no support in the Collective Bargaining Agreement itself. Seriously, what is going on?

The League's Logic Just Doesn't Line Up

The NFL sent Sorsby a letter, spelling out why he couldn't enter the supplemental draft. But when you look at the actual rules, the league’s stance looks like it's tripping over its own feet. We're talking about Article 6, Section 2(c) of the CBA here. It's pretty clear, laying out exactly when a player *can* be selected in a supplemental draft. The rule states: "If a player who was not eligible for the Draft in any League Year becomes eligible after the date of the Draft, he will be eligible to be selected in a Supplemental Draft, if the League elects to conduct such a Draft, on or before the seventh calendar day prior to the opening of the first training camp that League Year. No player may elect to bypass a Draft for which he is eligible to apply for selection in a Supplemental Draft."

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Read that closely. It sets out the terms. It's all about becoming eligible *after* the main draft. The NFL's decision here feels like it's trying to invent new rules on the fly, and that just doesn't sit right with any fan who wants a fair playing field.

It's All About "Eligibility," Not What They're Saying

Here's where it gets even more wild. The core issue, according to the experts, is simple: the test is "eligibility, not purity or integrity." That’s a key distinction right there. The general rule for draft eligibility, found in Article 6, Section 2(b), states that a player is eligible when "three NFL regular seasons have begun and ended following either his graduation from high school or graduation of the class with which he entered high school, whichever is earlier." It's a clear timeline.

Sorsby himself was in a position where, if he had chosen to forgo his remaining college eligibility, he *could* have been a part of the 2026 draft back in April under the "special eligibility" rule. So he met the criteria to be considered. The league seems to be sidestepping its own agreement, creating a situation where the letter of the law is being ignored. It makes you wonder what precedent this sets for any player trying to navigate the system.

This whole situation is a head-scratcher. When the NFL starts making decisions that arguably conflict with its own Collective Bargaining Agreement, it makes you question the transparency and fairness of the whole operation. For us, the 12s, who pour our hearts out for the Hawks every season, we expect accountability. We expect the league to uphold its own rules. What does this mean for the integrity of player relations and the league’s standing as we head towards the heat of summer and eventually, the roar of Lumen Field? It's a messy situation, and something's gotta give. We'll be watching closely to see if they clear this up, because a league that follows its own rules is a league we can trust.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.