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Brendan Sorsby heads for the supplemental draft

Brendan Sorsby is applying to be eligible for the supplemental draft, and I expect he’ll generate some interest. His running ability certainly gets my attention.

Sorsby is the former University of Cincinnati quarterback who’s been involved in multiple lawsuits in the offseason. He left the Bearcats before their bowl game, causing them to file suit that he violated his contract with them. The NCAA suspended him for betting on games, causing him and Texas Tech to sue for his eligibility. And Big-12 teams have threatened to boycott Texas Tech if he’s eligible.

Now, he’s turned his attention to the NFL, and the belief is that he’ll be selected with a first- or second-round pick. Certainly, there are QB-needy teams – Cards, Jets, Browns, Steelers. Picking him will cost that team its corresponding choice in next year’s draft.

Sorsby looks pretty good to me. He threw 27 touchdowns versus only 5 interceptions last year. The completion percentage isn’t as notable: 61.6 percent. I watched all of his snaps against #14 Iowa State this morning, and he misfired on 2 of his 3 long throws. He went only 13 of 25 in that game, 11 of 33 at Utah, and only 15 of 27 against Arizona. He’s not a surgeon at this point.

But it’s his mobility that catches my eye. He’s a big, rugged guy – listed at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds – and he’s got a good feel for taking off, and with some tackle-breaking ability (especially around the goal line). In this regard, he’s kind of like Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts – he’s a good runner not because of his speed or elusiveness, but with his size.

Sorsby scored 9 TDs in each of his last two seasons at Cincinnati. Comparing his rushing stats to quarterbacks who’ve been picked in the first or second round in the last 10 drafts, he slots near the top, and rushing production tends to be a sticky stats – guys who run in college tend to also run in the pros.

In the chart below, you’re seeing the rushing numbers from each quarterback’s final college season. Final number shows fantasy points using 6 for TDs and 1 for every 10 yards.

(Numbers are a little flawed in that colleges and pros handle them differently – at the college level, yards lost on sacks are counted as negative rushing yards.)

RUSHING, QUARTERBACKS PICKED IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS
YearPlayerHtWtGAttYardsTDPts
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.6-2216132321,60118268.1
2020Jalen Hurts, Phil.6-1222142331,29820249.8
2024Jayden Daniels, Wash.6-4210121351,13410173.4
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.5-10207141401,00112172.1
2023Anthony Richardson, Ind.6-4244121036549119.4
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.6-2221151656299116.9
2026Brendan Sorsby6-3235121005809112.0
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.6-22251213128512100.5
2024Drake Maye, N.E.6-422312112449998.9
2017DeShone Kizer, Clev.6-423312129472895.2
2021Zach Wilson, N.Y.6-2214127802541085.4
2024Caleb Williams, Chi.6-121412971421180.2
2026Fernando Mendoza, L.V.6-52361690276769.6
2021Justin Fields, Chi.6-3228881383568.3
2021Trevor Lawrence, Jac.6-62131068203868.3
2025Jaxson Dart, NYG6-222313124495367.5
2020Joe Burrow, Cin.6-322115115368566.8
2018Baker Mayfield, Clev.6-12151497311561.1
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.6-22221393308560.8
2024Bo Nix, Den.6-22141454234659.4
2022Kenny Pickett, Pitt.6-32171397241554.1
2019Drew Lock, Den.6-42281355175653.5
2019Daniel Jones, NYG6-522111104325350.5
2018Josh Allen, Buff.6-52371192204550.4
2025Cam Ward, Tenn.6-22191360204444.4
2023Bryce Young, Car.5-102041249185442.5
2024J.J. McCarthy, Minn.6-32191564202338.2
2018Sam Darnold, NYJ6-3221147582538.2
2019Dwayne Haskins, Wash.6-32311355108434.8
2020Justin Herbert, LAC6-6236145850429.0
2021Trey Lance, S.F.6-4226115143226.3
2021Kyle Trask, T.B.6-5240126450323.0
2026Ty Simpson, LAR6-1211159093221.3
2024Michael Penix, Atl.6-221615358318.8
2020Jordan Love, G.B.6-42241381175017.5
2020Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.6-021792317213.7
2023C.J. Stroud, Hou.6-32141347108010.8
2025Tyler Shough, N.O.6-521912421917.9
2021Mac Jones, N.E.6-321713351417.4
2018Josh Rosen, Ariz.6-42261150-9722.3
2023Will Levis, Tenn.6-42291172-10721.3

—Ian Allan

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