The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance to draft a high-upside developmental quarterback to back up Joe Burrow this summer. But the NFL has just closed that door for good. 

According to StripeHype’s Matt Fitzgerald, the plan was to develop him cheaply and eventually flip him for a premium draft asset. However, former Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby will not be entering the NFL early, as his petition has been denied by the NFL.

The NFL declared that it will not hold a supplemental draft for 2026. League General Counsel Larry Ferazani sent a letter to Sorsby and all thirty-two teams explaining that Sorsby's g******* violations were “too closely tied to the League's core integrity interests.” 

Ferazani's letter pointed out Sorsby’s petition was sent only three days before the deadline, after he was forced to drop his legal fight with the NCAA. The NFL did not get sufficient time to execute an adequate vetting process.

It also observed that Sorsby had continued to indulge his g******* habit across three universities and tried to avoid the consequences of his actions by forcibly overturning the NCAA ruling. However, none of this was mentioned in his petition.

Such behavior showed his disregard for the standards the league expected of his athletes. It also created doubt about whether Sorsby would refrain from his earlier behavior once he enters the world of pro football, where the stakes are even higher.

In 2025, while with the Bearcats, Sorsby threw 27 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions, averaged 8.3 yards per attempt, rushed for 580 yards with 9 touchdowns, and took just 7 sacks. 

Since Sorsby was a University of Cincinnati student-athlete, the Bengals' front office was able to directly evaluate his background and character. They also received information on his g******* rehabilitation and access that was unavailable to other teams.

The Bengals were hoping to cultivate a high-upside backup on an affordable rookie contract with a plan to eventually trade him for a high-value draft pick.

With that plan collapsing, it's even more imperative that Burrow stays healthy for Cincinnati.

Chris Simms puts Joe Burrow among NFL’s elite QBs for 2026

Chris Simms from NBC Sports reports that the potential for Bengals success is directly tied to franchise quarterback Joe Burrow's presence on the field.

In the NFL quarterback rankings published recently, Joe Burrow was declared the second-best quarterback overall by Simms. Only Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen was ahead of Burrow, leading this list.

"Burrow, you know, like Mahomes and Lamar, there is the injury thing there, and it is certainly a factor. But man, when I watch Joe Burrow, and he's out there right now, I mean, he's arguably the most surgical guy in the NFL from the pocket," Simms said on his Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast on NBC Sports.

Simms elaborated on the distinctions between Burrow and his counterparts.

"He's got a sixth sense. First off, he never misses the target. His throwing, his accuracy is incredible. Everything from power throws to being a passer and touch and anticipation," Simms added on the podcast.

Sorsby would have changed that equation. Simms' ranking reminds us how much the 2026 Bengals hinge on both the presence and the absence of Burrow.

Read more at the Cincinnati Bengals Community!

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit