Should the Bucs make a bid for Brendan Sorsby?

The Buccaneers may appear set at quarterback going into 2026, but general manager Jason Licht has to know his roster is in a precarious position. Baker Mayfield may only be around one more season, leaving Tampa Bay with a vacuum at their most important position. A solution may have presented itself as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby intends to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft.

>Baker Mayfield's current contract expires after the 2026 season, and he said the Bucs' position on an extension "isn't anywhere close" to what he had in mind. He also set the start of training camp as his deadline for contract negotiations. While the actual date of the supplemental draft has not yet been announced, it is likely to take place in early to mid-July, per The Athletic's Jayna Bardahl.

>If negotiations between the Bucs and Mayfield do not make progress, there could be a situation where the Bucs find themselves looking for a 2026 insurance policy with Sorsby. The former Cincinnati quarterback has many of the physical traits of an NFL quarterback: size, athleticism, and arm strength. He also pushed the ball down the field last season with a solid 10.6 ADOT while keeping the ball safe, throwing just five interceptions and seven turnover-worthy plays per PFF.

>The big problem with Sorsby is the reason why he is in the Supplemental Draft to begin with. He was caught making tens of thousands of bets, including on his own team when he played for Indiana in 2022. While he entered treatment for a gambling addiction, the subsequent legal drama saw Sorsby and Texas Tech fight to keep Sorsby eligible for the 2026 college football season, a fight they ultimately surrendered.

>For as much as the NCAA found Sorsby's gambling issues to be problematic, the NFL is not going to look on them any more favorably. Any chance Sorsby would garner first-round consideration ended when his gambling history came to light.

>However, Sorsby's talent may still garner mid-round offers. His athletic upside compares favorably to Penn State's Drew Allar, who was taken in the third round of this year's draft. Sorsby arguably showed more potential as a passer than Allar last season, but there is no escaping the risk posed by Sorsby's gambling history.

>Licht historically shies away from drafting players with off-field issues, but he may be in a position where the risk is justified for the right price. With no real contingency for a possible Baker Mayfield departure, the Bucs could put in a low bid, such as a sixth-round pick, to at least give themselves a shot at acquiring Sorsby's services.

>Unfortunately, there are teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins that have a higher draft position and far more need to upgrade the quarterback position long-term. The odds of the Bucs going into training camp with Sorsby on the roster remain very long.

>This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Brendan Sorsby could be an option for the Bucs at quarterback