Eagles Mailbag: Could Brendan Sorsby Land in Philadelphia?
The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up mandatory minicamp last week and will now enjoy over a month off before training camp begins in late July. Yet Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is always working and an unexpected opportunity has suddenly presented itself to the NFL. According to multiple reports, former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is applying to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.
While the Eagles certainly believe in starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, we can’t lose sight of Roseman’s willingness to consistently invest in the position over the years. But would Philadelphia actually entertain potentially giving up a 2027 second-round pick to land Sorsby? I’ll answer that question and much more in my latest Eagles mailbag.
The entire situation involving former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is a rare and fascinating one. Sorsby is a 22-year-old quarterback prospect that some believe may have pushed to be a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Yet Sorsby is now opting to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft after the NCAA discovered that he placed over 9,000 bets totaling at least $90,000, including at least 40 wagers on his own team when he was at Indiana.
It’s a unique circumstance given the caliber of player that Sorsby is and when he’s potentially becoming available at the next level. While there are certainly more quarterback needy teams around the NFL like the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, I’ve learned to never say never with the Eagles. There are several reasons to believe that the Eagles would at least entertain making a bid for Sorsby:
The Eagles have always placed a premium on the quarterback position, even with a “franchise” player in place, like they did when they drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft despite the presence of then-starting quarterback Carson Wentz.
During OTAs and mandatory minicamp in 2026, it seems like there is uncertainty at QB2 with Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton sharing reps behind Hurts in practice.
The only quarterbacks under contract in Philadelphia beyond 2026 are Hurts and Cole Payton.
Hurts has minimal guaranteed money remaining in his current deal after 2026.
Roseman loves good value and if he views Sorsby as a potential first-round pick, he could bid as high as a 2027 second-round pick for the 22-year-old.
The Eagles signed cornerback Isaiah Rodgers in 2023, despite knowing that he would be suspended for the entire season due to gambling, which included placing bets on his own team. Therefore, Philadelphia could be comfortable with Sorsby’s history.
Prior to the start of OTAs, I listed Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee as a player that was on the hot seat. While some believed that I was crazy for doing so, it seems like the 26-year-old quarterback has yet to be able to separate himself from veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in the battle for the QB2 job. That is certainly concerning, in my opinion.
Just a year or so ago, McKee was viewed as one of the top backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Yet after a disappointing performance in Week 18 and a new offensive scheme being implemented this offseason, it seems like McKee could be the odd man out. My guess is that Philadelphia will find a new home for him before the regular season, as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract.
This feels like the easy answer but I’m going to have to go with Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. While I’m never going to be the one to doubt Hurts, it feels like there’s a lot of weight on his shoulders to do things that he hasn’t necessarily done before in 2026. Eagles new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is implementing a Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay-inspired offense in Philadelphia.
According to reporters in attendance at OTAs and mandatory minicamp, this is truly going to be a drastically different offense for Hurts and the Eagles. Hurts will be operating from under center more than he has ever done in his entire career. He will likely be asked to target the middle of the field more than he has in the past as well. Hurts will have to get comfortable being uncomfortable, which I’m fully confident that he can do in 2026 and beyond.
The Eagles have more than enough talent to be a top 10 offense in the NFL next season. Yet after last season’s performance, I can understand why fans would want to temper their expectations in Philadelphia. Here’s where the Eagles ranked in most major offensive statistical categories in 2025:
Points Per Game: 22.3 (19th)
Total Yards Per Game: 311.2 (24th)
Passing Yards Per Game: 194.3 (23rd)
Rushing Yards Per Game: 116.9 (18th)
Those are simply embarrassing numbers for an offense that was as talented as Philadelphia’s unit was in 2025. Yet following the arrival of first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, I truly believe that the Eagles can push to be a top 10 offense in all four categories next season. The offensive line seems healthy and excited for the change and Philadelphia’s rookies will be just fine moving forward after slow starts this offseason.
As of right now, I’d say that the Eagles backup offensive line spots and the fourth spot at safety are the most unsettled situations. It feels like Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall and Markel Bell the only “locks” to make Philadelphia’s final 53-man roster among the team’s reserve offensive linemen. Beyond that, it’s hard to project who will get the final spots.
Meanwhile at safety, the top three of Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II appear to be locks. Yet beyond those three, there is a lot of uncertainty in Philadelphia. It’s hard to say that anyone else in the team’s safety room has an edge over the other players ahead of training camp. My guess is that rookie Cole Wisniewski has the upper hand due to his draft status but Philadelphia has cut day three draft picks before.
The Eagles certainly aren’t taking things slow with rookie offensive tackle Markel Bell, which is a good sign. After primarily playing left tackle in college, Bell has already received practice reps at both left tackle and right tackle in Philadelphia. Yet given the presence of Fred Johnson, my guess is that the Eagles won’t force Bell into the swing tackle role just yet. But if Bell looks comfortable enough in training camp, maybe Philadelphia would trade Johnson and have Bell fill that roll in 2026.
Hollywood Brown will certainly have a role in Philadelphia’s new-look offense but it’s hard for me to imagine that he’ll be a starter. My guess is that Brown will be fourth at the position behind DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks. Yet that doesn’t mean that Brown won’t make an impact on the field.
Brown is a legitimate deep threat and I could see him playing a similar role to what Jayden Reed was for the Green Bay Packers during Mannion’s time with the team. Reed was used in a variety of ways that helped utilize his speed and field-stretching ability. Brown offers a similar skillset and could contribute in some of the same ways, on a smaller scale, in 2026. In regards to special teams, Brown has just one career kick return and zero punt returns.
I’d argue the opposite and say that the Steelers have actually struggled to find wide receiver talent in the NFL Draft in recent years. While they selected George Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, they have picked three wide receivers since then:
Roman Wilson (2024)
Germie Bernard (2026)
Kaden Wetjen (2026)
It’s also worth noting that the Steelers have had to trade for DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in recent years. That’s primarily due to the team’s inability to land wide receivers in the NFL Draft and maximize their talents in Pittsburgh. So while the Steelers had success identifying talent at the position in the past, that hasn’t necessarily been the case over the last few years.
I labeled Johnny Wilson as one of “My Guys” in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson was my choice a wide receiver due to his rare blend of size and athleticism at the position. Yet through two years in Philadelphia, he has yet to truly put it on display at the next level. Therefore, my guess is that he’ll push for a backup role in 2026 and make the final roster as the fifth or sixth wide receiver on the Eagles depth chart.
I’ve addressed this topic before but I truly believe that the idea of retiring jersey numbers is a dumb one. Each franchise should implement a ring of honor or team hall of fame and honor the great players of the past that way. In a league that already limits the jersey number options for each position, it doesn’t make any sense to put certain jersey numbers off limits.
In regard to the Eagles, they make things even worse by unofficially retiring jersey numbers. As of right now, Philadelphia has officially retired nine jersey numbers. But the team has also opted to unofficially retire six other jersey numbers. Therefore, 10 players are currently sharing jersey numbers in Philadelphia. The NFL has a jersey number problem and the Eagles aren’t making things any better!
It would be wise for the Eagles to extend DeVonta Smith before the regular season. The wide receiver market continues to explode and Smith is definitely deserving of a raise, as he currently ranks 19th in average per year among wide receivers. Yet I wouldn’t say the same thing for Jalen Carter, who appears to be holding in.
Carter is a phenomenal player when healthy, there is no denying that. Yet after last season’s disappointing performance, I’d find it hard to give Carter the market resetting deal that him and his agent are likely looking for. While the Eagles always try to pay players early, I’d caution against doing so with Carter in 2026.
The Eagles actually reworked Zack Baun’s contract earlier this offseason, as they reportedly converted 2028 from a void year into a real year. This maneuver makes it more likely that Baun will stick around in Philadelphia for two more seasons. Then the Eagles could designate Baun as a post-June 1 cut in 2028 and spread his dead cap hit into 2029 as well.
While Jihaad Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. have shown flashes, I’m not sure that the Eagles are ready to move on from Baun just yet. He has quickly become one of the NFL’s best linebackers and Philadelphia rewarded him as such. If Eagles defensive coordinator said that he will be in Philadelphia for the next two seasons, I’d assume that Baun will also be there alongside him for the ride.
Normally, I’d say that there is no way that the Eagles could find room for Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Philadelphia simply hasn’t utilized three off-ball linebackers in the past, yet that could change in 2026. Following the signing of Riq Woolen, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio revealed that Cooper DeJean will play safety in the team’s base defense. If that’s the case, maybe Philadelphia will be be able to find more snaps for someone like Trotter.
Unfortunately, I’m considered an “independent journalist” and don’t have media credentials for the Eagles…but that’s a different topic for another day. Yet according to reporters in attendance at OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Keyshawn James-Newby, Maximus Pulley and Kapena Gushiken have each made a play or two at times, yet nothing out of the ordinary. Most notably, Gushiken earned the nickname “Gush” from Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Despite some that are upset that the Eagles didn’t land Myles Garrett, Philadelphia’s edge rusher group is still one of the deepest rotations in the NFL. After being forced to make a midseason trade for Jaelan Phillips, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has invested quite a few more resources into the team’s edge rusher rotation this offseason. Here’s how I see it all shaking out in 2026:
EDGE1: Jonathan Greenard
EDGE2: Jalyx Hunt
EDGE3: Nolan Smith Jr.
EDGE4: Arnold Ebiketie
EDGE5: A.J. Epenesa
EDGE6(/IDL4?): Brandon Graham
According to multiple reports, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka wasn’t present at Philadelphia’s OTAs or mandatory minicamp. It’s an odd situation but I’m just hoping that JTS is okay. The Eagles signed Tryon-Shoyinka to a one-year, $1.4 million deal with just $662,500 guaranteed at signing. Therefore, it’s not like he was ever viewed as a lock to make the team’s final 53-man roster. I’d like to see what JTS has to offer but there seems to be a legitimate chance that he won’t report to Philadelphia, especially after the Eagles signed A.J. Epenesa earlier this month.
I’d still expect the Eagles to make another move at safety. In a recent livestream, I mentioned former Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp as a player that would make sense as a potential free agent target for the Eagles. He has a few connections to Philadelphia’s coaching staff and roster, which could give the Eagles enough information to take a chance on the former starting safety.
As someone that’s watched the UFC for over a decade, it was pretty cool to see UFC Freedom 250 unfold. While I’m not going to get into the political aspect of it all, it was just a genuinely good fight card overall. I met Justin Gaethje at Fanatics Fest last year and you could tell how much he wanted another title shot. Gaethje shocked the world and I’ll certainly enjoy watching what will likely be the final chapter for one of the most entertaining fighters of all-time.
Yes, I believe in Marcus Epps and believe that he is a capable starting safety in Philadelphia’s defense, which he showed late last season. But I also feel like it’s fair to say that the Eagles should’ve (and still could) invested more in the safety position this offseason. Epps provides a solid floor as a starting safety, yet he doesn’t necessarily present the high ceiling that you’d normally want in that spot. My guess is that Philadelphia will make another move at the position ahead of the regular season.
Jake Elliott will be the Eagles kicker in 2026. Philadelphia essentially guaranteed that after restructuring his contract earlier this offseason. The Eagles reportedly trimmed Elliott’s salary for 2026 from $6 million to $5 million but fully guaranteed his money for the season. Therefore, even if the Eagles were to bring in “competition” at kicker this offseason, it wouldn’t actually have any legitimate impact on Elliott’s standing next season.
The break between mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp is different for each player. It gives players the opportunity to take one final break before the grind truly begins. If a player is a proven veteran with a stable roster spot, they likely feel more comfortable being away from the team’s training facility. Yet if a player is on less solid ground, they could opt to stay closer and remain in the building.
In today’s NFL, it seems like plenty of players will enjoy their time off away from the team while working with private trainers during the break. We’ve also seen players from different teams working together during this break at events such as the “Sack Summit” for pass rushers and the “OL Masterminds” for offensive linemen. The players seem to have free rein during this break and it’s interesting to see their approach.