Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is shaping up to be a fascinating case study for NFL teams.The most high-profile draft prospect embroiled in a modern-era gambling scandal, Sorsby must soon decide whether to enter this summer’s supplemental draft or risk his chance to play another college season through an appeal process (he’s requested an expedited process) before entering the 2027 NFL Draft.Of course, his draft stock hinges on the investigation into these allegations, and teams have been scrambling to gather as much intel as possible. If they’re positioned to bid an early pick in the supplemental draft, they had better know who they’re spending it on.“Is it (a relatively minor infraction) or Pete Rose?” a high-ranking team executive asked.Texas’ Arch Manning and Oregon’s Dante Moore are considered the two best quarterbacks in the 2027 class, and Sorsby has been viewed among the second tier of prospects. But with the excitement over the upcoming class, there’s cautious optimism that it will be flush with more first-round QB talent than the past two drafts.The thing is, Sorsby would greatly benefit from a strong 2026 season, and he was set up to thrive with Texas Tech’s big-money roster. That’s now in jeopardy, as Sorsby has taken an indefinite leave of absence to enter a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction.He is under investigation by the NCAA for allegedly betting on Indiana football games in 2022 while he was a redshirt freshman for the team. And Sorsby, who spent the past two seasons at Cincinnati, is the subject of an integrity investigation by Ohio gambling officials.Sorsby has retained renowned lawyer Jeffrey Kessler for a potential eligibility battle if he attempts to play another college season.“This is a player who is in the conversation for the top two rounds next year in the draft,” an executive said. “He’s one of the guys who (scouts) were excited to evaluate. They were excited (about) this year and saw steady progression.”Sorsby is a physically gifted passer with a strong arm, and he’s mobile enough to extend plays. Multiple evaluators who spoke to The Athletic (they were granted anonymity in exchange for their candor in discussing a prospect who is not yet draft-eligible) believe it is plausible Sorsby would have been drafted ahead of Ty Simpson, who went No. 13 to the Los Angeles Rams, if he was part of the 2026 class. Evaluators want to see Sorsby improve his efficiency, decision-making and accuracy.Three NFL executives and one college coach whose program was interested in Sorsby in the transfer portal expressed shock over the allegations, as they hadn’t previously been aware of any character concerns.Teams want to understand the scope of the betting. Was he laying down a few dollars here on sporadic prop bets or blowing through his NIL money to catch up on losses?“It’s such a wide variety of possibilities,” the executive added. “If he’s betting on his own team, that’s much different than UFC fights.”If Sorsby opts for the NFL now, he would reinvigorate a supplemental draft that has gone by the wayside of late.“If he comes out in the supplemental draft, he’s going to be the most consequential prospect in a long, long time,” an executive said.If Sorsby declares for the supplemental draft by June 30, the NFL will set a summer draft date, and teams would convene for a bidding process that’s comparable to a silent auction. If the New York Jets, for example, submit a silent bid of a first-round pick, they’d relinquish a first-rounder in the 2027 draft.Jalen Thompson was the last supplemental-draft selection, in 2019. Wide receiver Josh Gordon (2012) was the last second-rounder taken in the supplemental draft, and Terrelle Pryor (2011, third round) was the last quarterback taken. There have only been four players selected since Gordon, a falloff compared to the 11 who were drafted from 2002 to 2012.As teams await Sorsby’s decision, they’re assessing the best ways to gather information. If teams believe there’s a possibility of a criminal investigation, it will change the entire scope of their evaluation.