Steelers Eyeing Brendan Sorsby Would Say Plenty About Drew Allar, Will Howard
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has emphasized the importance of continuing to develop the quarterback position. Throughout his coaching career, McCarthy has built a reputation for developing young quarterbacks into quality backups, with several eventually landing lucrative contracts elsewhere.
McCarthy has two of them now with the Steelers. Former 6th-round pick Will Howard will be with the team entering training camp in July, and he was a part of the team's selection of Drew Allar in the third round in April's draft. It's fair to wonder if the Steelers would have made that decision if every college quarterback who would be eligible to be drafted in 2026 were available.
Will the Steelers take Brendan Sorsby in 2026 Supplemental draft?
Brendan Sorsby, the former Cincinnati and almost-Texas Tech quarterback, represents a different caliber of prospect. He was viewed by some as a potential first-round pick, but that train likely sailed when he admitted to placing over $90,000 worth of bets on college football games, including 40 bets on his own team. This eventually led to his decision to enter the NFL's supplemental draft.
The Steelers conducting their due diligence should come as no surprise. The franchise has lacked stability at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. From the failed first-round selection of Kenny Pickett to a revolving door of veteran stopgaps, Pittsburgh still needs to find a quarterback worth building around. With both Howard and Allar already in McCarthy's quarterback pipeline, the question becomes whether Sorsby is worth pursuing despite those investments.
Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling sees the Steelers as one of seven teams who should be looking at the embattled passer in the supplemental draft.
"You can never have too many capable quarterbacks on your roster, and while Sorsby still needs some development, he looked way closer to an NFL-ready product than Allar did last year," he wrote. "...He's got more upside than Howard brings to the table. He could sit behind Rodgers this year, and take the reins in 2027 with some young depth behind him."
Risk on drafting Brendan Sorsby will equal the cost to acquire him
While Sorsby's ceiling remains incredibly high, his floor is equally concerning. He is a raw prospect with immense talent, but there's a reason he finds himself in the supplemental draft. Sorsby spent time in rehab for what he called a gambling addiction. Beyond the addiction itself, though, he placed bets on his own team, leading to understandable concern bringing him into a locker room.
Adding to those concerns, Sorsby spent months fighting to preserve his eligibility rather than simply accepting responsibility for his mistakes. That reality raises an obvious question: why would any NFL team take the risk? The answer is simple: elite quarterback talent often convinces teams to overlook significant red flags. The Steelers must determine whether Sorsby's upside justifies that gamble. Under normal circumstances, absent the off-field concerns, Pittsburgh would be foolish not to consider drafting him.
But these are not normal circumstances. McCarthy has publicly praised Allar and Howard, and they are now reportedly evaluating Sorsby as well. The only scenario in which pursuing him truly makes sense is if he can be acquired for a late Day 3 pick. Frankly, that outcome seems likely. Not because of a lack of talent, but because many teams may simply view him as too risky.
For now, Pittsburgh's interest appears to be nothing more than standard due diligence. However, if Sorsby is still available in the sixth round, should the Steelers pull the trigger? It would be a low-cost gamble with the potential for a significant payoff.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 1:04 PM.