Dolphins Sign First-Round CB Chris Johnson
The Dolphins continue to shuffle paperwork for their picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. A day after landing the signatures of 10 drafted rookies, Miami has followed up with the completion of negotiations with both first-round picks. While the team made an announcement for the signing of No. 12 overall pick Kadyn Proctor this afternoon, it was NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that announced No. 27 overall pick Chris Johnson‘s signing.
As a three-star recruit out of Roosevelt HS (CA), Johnson didn’t have a ton of options, but he chose to stay fairly close to home when committing to San Diego State over offers from Northwestern, Boston College, Boise State, and Army. After playing minimally as a true freshman, Johnson began to rotate in more on defense in Year 2, recording his first interception, a forced fumble, and two passes defensed. Earning a starting role as a junior, Johnson began to break out, consistently finding the ball with another interception, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles.
After a senior season in which he completed his breakout with four interceptions (for 146 yards and two touchdowns), eight passes defensed, and another forced fumble, Johnson secured his status as the presumed CB3 in the draft class but ended up being the second corner taken after Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy slid due to injury. Johnson boasts quick, fluid hips and strong instincts. He tends to toy with passers, baiting them into making throws that allow him to take advantage good hands for a defender. He shows good-not-great speed but has great recovery quickness. He’ll likely need to bulk up at the pro level, but the effort is there physically.
Miami saw cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Jack Jones depart in free agency, and veteran Rasul Douglas‘ contract expired this offseason, as well. Making his way across the country, Johnson should immediately have a pathway to a starting role across from Darrell Baker in a young, inexperienced secondary. He may encounter some challenge for the role, but with the Dolphins trading up to land him, it may just be his job to lose.
With all the work Miami’s put in over the past two days, only Mississippi State fifth-round tight end Seydou Traore remains un-signed. Here’s a look at the team’s 13-man draft class:
- Round 1, No. 12 (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 27 (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 43: Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 75: Caleb Douglas (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87 (from Eagles): Will Kacmarek (TE, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Broncos): Chris Bell (WR, Louisville) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Broncos): Trey Moore (EDGE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 138*: Kyle Louis (LB, Pitt) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings): Michael Taaffe (S, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 177 (from Cowboys)*: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 180 (from Cowboys)*: Seydou Traore (TE, Mississippi State)
- Round 6, No. 200 (from Panthers): DJ Campbell (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers via Titans and Jets): Max Llewellyn (EDGE, Iowa) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/26
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Jaden Smith
New York Jets
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Da’Quan Felton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Chandler Martin
After only two days, Felton and Martin see their fortunes reversed. Martin is rejoining the team that waived him on Monday. The Jets will return Felton to the waiver wire two days after signing him with the apparent intent of reverting him to their injured reserve once he clears waivers.
Changes Coming To Eagles’ QB Room?
As a rookie second-round pick out of Oklahoma, the school to which he transferred after losing his starting job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts was tasked with starting the final four games of the Eagles 2020 regular season after former No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz was benched as the starter. Hurts debut as a starting passer in the NFL provided a mixed bag in those final four contests of the year, but Hurts has not relinquished the starting job from that point on.
This offseason, though things haven’t progressed far enough to threaten Hurts’ role as a starter in 2026, questions and concerns have been raised that could result in a number of changes to Philadelphia’s handling of the quarterback position. A joint report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler in early April revealed that some blame for the team’s offensive struggles, though spread to several factors, is being placed on Hurts’ shoulders.
Specifically, sources with the team seem to indicate that Hurts’ unwillingness to diversify the offensive scheme has hamstrung the offense from progressing into something more. Pushing back on ideas as simple as going under center more, Hurts has been reluctant to rely on his arm in some zone-coverage situations and will “(divert) from the game plan and (change) playcalls to what some feel is an excessive degree.” It’s limited the team’s offense from progressing into a more complete passing attack and forced the unit to rely on the legs of star running back Saquon Barkley.
In the face of some recent struggles and losses, Hurts has been able to maintain a cool head, a useful attribute when one is in the heat of battle but one that can come off another way when the season is over. Sources in the building claim that some teammates read Hurts’ demeanor as “poor body language” or a sign that he’s “not always bought in” and “not the most coachable.” It’s something players are reportedly noticing, and now that it’s been made public, it’s become something he will need to actively work on.
Some of the blame that gets shifted off of Hurts goes to the lack of consistent coaching around him throughout his tenure in Philadelphia. Since taking over the starting job, Hurts has had five offensive coordinators in six seasons. The only season in which Hurts saw any consistency was when Shane Steichen got to be his play-caller for a second year in 2022. That season saw Hurts win 14 of his 15 starts and finish second in MVP voting, losing the award to the quarterback of the team that would defeat them in the Super Bowl that year.
Steichen left the team for a head coaching opportunity, and his successor, Brian Johnson, was fired when the team lost five of their last six games following a 10-1 start then made a first-round playoff exit. Kellen Moore found more success in Philadelphia the next year, leading the team to its second Super Bowl victory, but it required him to implement some new offensive concepts. Per McManus and Fowler, sources with the team “described the relationship between Moore and Hurts…as ‘tense’ at times,” but the two were able to find compromise as Hurts agreed to run some plays with more pre-snap motions and shifts.
Moore’s successor, Kevin Patullo, was fired after his only year as the team’s coordinator saw the offense take a major step backwards last year. While Patullo was “well-liked and respected in the building,” players reportedly “lost faith” in the play-caller. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has been tasked with un-sticking his unit. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, Hurts will be expected to make quite a few more compromises in Mannion’s attempts to ‘blend’ the offense, and that will likely mean more work under center for the six-year veteran.
Another change in the QB room could concern the number of players in the room. Per Geoff Mosher of the PhillyVoice, “the Eagles are keeping four quarterbacks no matter what” in 2026. Already returning backup Tanner McKee alongside Hurts, the team traded for veteran backup Andy Dalton and drafted North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth-round. Initially, it was thought that Dalton was being brought in as overqualified QB3, but Berman noted that Dalton has been taking some QB2 reps over McKee in Organized Team Activities.
2026 will be a big season for Hurts as it appears more scrutinous eyes will be on him moving forward. Per McManus and Fowler, “there are no signs” that Hurts and the Eagles have begun working towards a new contract extension. Though there’s still plenty of time before that becomes a priority, there’s not much guaranteed money left on Hurts’ contract past this year. The combination of an uncertain financial future and increased bodies in the position room behind him may just be enough to push Hurts to make the necessary changes to jump start the Eagles offense moving forward.
Browns’ OL Rookies Getting First-Team Reps
The Browns are in the process of replacing all five starters on their offensive line, and in the effort of finding a new starting five, Cleveland utilized three of its 10 draft selections to address the position. The team spent a first- and third round pick on collegiate offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Austin Barber (Florida), respectively, and a fifth-round pick on Alabama center Parker Brailsford. Zac Jackson of The Athletic detailed how each of the team’s rookies on the offensive line have been used so far in spring practices.
In rookie minicamp and early Organized Team Activities, Fano has been playing left tackle and Barber right, which is opposite where each player lined up at their respective alma maters. The team is hoping that Fano will eventually take a convincing hold of the starting left tackle job, but currently, Dawand Jones is getting the best look at that spot early on. Fano started at left tackle as a freshman with the Utes but has played right tackle ever since. It will certainly be a challenge to switch sides in his transition to a starting role in the NFL, but practicing against the likes of Myles Garrett everyday could to wonders for his development.
If Fano is able to unseat Jones, then Jones will go on competing with the next rookie, Barnes, for the primary swing tackle role. Jackson speculates that Barnes could also end up getting some looks at guard, which could be really beneficial for Barnes’ roster security if he isn’t able to secure the backup tackle role. Of the three rookies, Barnes has seen the least amount of time with the first-team offense, but it sounds like the team’s focus for him has been developing his versatility.
Unlike Barnes, Brailsford is reportedly seen only as a center, but that hasn’t stopped him from seeing his fair share of first-team reps. With presumed starting center Elgton Jenkins and fellow center Luke Wypler both not practicing, Brailsford has benefitted with a good amount of time on the first-team offense. Jenkins is still working his way back from the broken leg that ended his 2025 campaign, while Wypler is recovering from a knee injury.
Realistically, only Fano is expected to earn a starting job in his first year of NFL play, but Brailsford and Barnes both have big opportunities in front of them, if they can impress in these early looks. With Wypler and Jones on expiring deals in 2026, both rookies will be given the chance to convince the team to allow the veterans to walk in free agency.
Latest On Lions’ Injuries: Branch, LaPorta, Arnold
During Organized Team Activities this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the latest on the recovery efforts of a few players who suffered season-ending injuries last year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The name of the game for Detroit this offseason appears to be “patience” as Campbell was in no hurry to see any of his injured players rushed back for OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Starting safety Brian Branch may require the most patience. After tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg late last year, Branch is reportedly “not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.” Fellow starting safety Kerby Joseph missed the last 11 games of the year “due to a degenerative condition in his knee.” The two had become a reliable duo in the Lions’ defensive outfield, and their extended absences forced Detroit to invest in some insurance in free agency this offseason.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is working his way back from a herniated disc in his back and “has taken part in ‘some walk-through (and) jog-through’ portions of practice this spring.” Though he is back on the field early, Detroit will continue to practice patience as LaPorta “is not expected to be a full participant in practice until training camp.” The same was true for cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is being slow-played as he works his way back from season-ending shoulder surgery in the hope that he’ll be healthy when the team opens the season.
Though Campbell did not provide an update on Joseph’s recovery timeline, he relayed that none of Branch, Joseph, or LaPorta were expected to participate this past week. “The most important thing is continue to let them improve, rehab, all that,” Campbell told reporters. “That’ll take precedence right now. So, they’re in meetings, they’re getting the mental side of this. Just take it day to day.”
Framework ‘In Place’ For A.J. Brown Trade?
MAY 31: While the term “framework” is a bit nebulous, and while Breer did concede the Eagles and Patriots still have to hammer out all of the trade details, a fundamental issue in these protracted talks appears to remain unresolved. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link), the Patriots are still not “overly crazy” about giving up a first-round pick (presumably, this refers to a 2028 pick as well as a ‘27 choice).
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald spoke with various sources about fair compensation in a Brown swap and received differing opinions. One source called Brown a “declining asset” and argued a Day 1 choice was too rich, while another pointed out that the Broncos had to give up a first-rounder to acquire Jaylen Waddle, who is less than two years younger than Brown and who does not have the same history of production.
Fowler suggests attaching a condition to a draft pick or even an arrangement in which Philadelphia sends a pick back to New England could help push the negotiations over the finish line.
MAY 30: There has been no shortage of coverage for the situation concerning Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and a potential offseason trade. At this point, it’s become widely accepted that the team will ship Brown off to New England, but they will wait until after June 1 to do so. Well, in the latest development from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), there’s belief that “the framework is in place” for the trade to occur this week.
To run through a brief timeline, following several incidents that seemed to paint a picture of an unhappy Brown in Philadelphia, reports emerged near the end of the 2025 NFL season that the Eagles would consider trading the three-time second-team All-Pro they had acquired four years ago after sending a first-round pick to Tennessee. By the time the season had ended and a new champion had been crowned, even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni hinted at the future in telling the media that he couldn’t guarantee Brown would return for 2026.
One of the two teams that made it to Super Bowl LX — the one that fell just short of the season’s ultimate goal — expressed early interest in Brown, linking the former Titans wideout to his former head coach in New England. The Patriots were not alone in their pursuit, though, as the Bills, Ravens, and Rams emerged as teams to watch for the veteran pass catcher. The Bills seemed to remove themselves from the conversation, though, after successfully acquiring former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder.
The Rams reached out to Philadelphia, and trade talks progressed to the point that Los Angeles began exploring the idea of trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. It was rumored that talks with the Rams had progressed even further than the Eagles’ discussions with New England, but ultimately, Los Angeles was ruled out as a potential trade destination for Brown.
With the Rams out, a few other teams were rumored with little substance, but interest out of New England remained a constant, even after the team made a strong move to improve its receiving corps by signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs also expressed interest in re-signing to stay with the Patriots as a free agent, but adding another big contract to that position room was something the Patriots were only willing to do if they missed out on Brown.
At first, the Eagles had intentions of completing some solution for the situation with Brown before the start of free agency, but as time went on, it became clear that the team intended to wait until after June 1 to make a trade happen in order to avoid incurring massive dead cap figures. Any trade before that date would shoulder the team with $43.45MM in dead money, and Brown would still account for $20.06MM of their cap space for the season. A post-June 1 trade would still leave Philadelphia with $16.35MM in dead money, but it would also clear $7.04MM in cap space.
With this realization, it was considered to be “inevitable” that Brown would be traded once June arrived. As if to emphasize that point, Philadelphia approached the 2026 NFL Draft with the mindset that it would not have Brown for 2026 and walked away from the first round having drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a clear replacement for the departing veteran. With the Eagles set, the only question that remained concerned Brown’s future home and compensation.
Expectations continued to point to the Patriots as the likeliest other participant in the inevitable exchange, but New England seemed to balk at the idea of utilizing a first-round selection to acquire Brown. The Eagles’ initial ask was for a first- and second-round package (specifically, with a first-rounder in 2027), though Brown’s value was perceived to be more like a packaged headlined by a second-round pick. Two days ago, it was reported that the Eagles and Patriots were still negotiating but that Philadelphia had opened its mind to accepting a 2028 first-round pick.
In our latest update from Breer, he clarifies that the exact terms and conditions of the deal may still need to be hammered out, but with the framework in place, he asserts that it “would take somebody backing out” for the trade not to occur. At this point, it would be a surprise if a team backed out, so all signs are pointing to Brown becoming a Patriot early in the coming week.
Eagles Rookie Markel Bell Could Challenge For Swing Tackle Role
The Eagles boast one of the more-talented, highly regarded pair of bookend tackles in the league with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Philadelphia still opted to utilize a Day 2 pick on the position, and doing so has the potential to address two things moving forward for the Eagles.
With Johnson having just turned 36 years old with two years remaining on his contract, third-round rookie Markel Bell could be the plan as the heir apparent to Johnson if the Eagles opt to move on from the All-Pro right tackle. In a more immediate purpose, though, Bell could wrestle the role of swing tackle away from veteran incumbent Fred Johnson. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, with Lane Johnson not currently present at Organized Team Activities, it’s been Bell, not Fred Johnson, benefitting from first-team reps in his place.
Bell found his way to third-round draft status after landing at Miami (FL) through the JuCo route. After two years at Holmes Community College (MS), Bell committed to the Hurricanes and earned a swing tackle role in his first year. He arrived in Coral Gables a bit raw, boasting elite size in his 6-foot-9, 350-pound frame. After a year in the Hurricanes’ system, he earned a starting role as the blindside blocker opposite first-round teammate Francis Mauigoa. He hasn’t quite found his ideal body composition and his lower body movement could use work at the next level, but Bell boasts the size, strength, and length of an NFL tackle with surprising mobility and athleticism.
Fred Johnson, a former undrafted free agent out of Florida, has done good work to stay in the NFL over the past seven years. Initially signing with the Steelers after falling out of the 2019 draft, Johnson was claimed by the Bengals when Pittsburgh waived him midway through October of his rookie year. In two and a half seasons in Cincinnati, Johnson appeared in 23 games, earning seven starts. After a year in Tampa Bay, Johnson signed with the Eagles, with whom he’s enjoyed a three-year stint as the team’s swing tackle, appearing in 51 games and starting 14 of them. Over the past two seasons, though, in those 14 starts, Johnson has not graded out favorably, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
So, with Bell getting tapped to fill in as the starting right tackle in place of Lane Johnson in OTAs, he’s gaining experience at right tackle that will benefit his ability to fill in on either side of the line, and he’s getting valuable experience on the first team offense that could give coaches an idea of his potential to start in future seasons. If he continues to get looks over Fred Johnson moving forward, he could establish a role as the Eagles swing tackle in his rookie campaign.
Raiders Intend To Use RB Ashton Jeanty As Workhorse
Two weeks after ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said he “would like to have a two-running back system” to “take some of the workload off” Ashton Jeanty, a new report seems to offer a change in stance. McFadden’s report this week suggested that Kubiak wants to give Jeanty a Christian McCaffrey-like snap share in his sophomore campaign.
Two weeks ago, we wrote about the potential Arkansas rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. held in his ability to relieve Jeanty of some of his massive workload. Running backs in Las Vegas last year carried the ball 307 times; Jeanty’s 266 carries accounted for 86.6% of them. Out of 994 offensive snaps for the Raiders, Jeanty was on the field for 770 (77.5%) of them. For context, McCaffrey’s 311 carries accounted for 77.2% of the team’s 403 carries by running backs, and he was on the field for 1,014 (81.7%) of the team’s 1,241 snaps.
“We want to put a lot of pressure on Ashton,” Kubiak told reporters. “…I don’t know the play snap percentage, but you look at Christian McCaffrey, his play snap percentage is high. So, the great backs, they don’t want to come off the field.”
Jeanty answered his new coach’s call, telling reporters that he didn’t want to come off the field if he didn’t have to. In his heavy usage as a rookie, Jeanty averaged an underwhelming 3.7 yards per carry, but that lack of efficiency wasn’t all on his shoulders. As part of the league’s worst rushing attack in Las Vegas last year, Jeanty was stopped for zero or fewer runs on 26.7% of his carries, per McFadden, and his 639 yards after contact are the most in the past 20 seasons for rushers who didn’t reach 1,000 yards.
The Raiders worked hard to ensure they were putting an improved offense around Jeanty, and they’ll hope that doing so will allow him to reap more production for his efforts. To increase his durability and endurance, Jeanty has incorporated boxing into his cardio routine, and he’s started film study on the likes of McCaffrey and new division-rival Kenneth Walker III (the last leading rusher in a Kubiak-led offense). Reaching that level of usage will require Jeanty to play a bigger part in the passing game, as well.
Kubiak knows the lofty expectations the Raiders had when drafting Jeanty the year before he arrived, and he knows the expectations Jeanty has for himself. He, therefore, sees it as his responsibility to get those expectations out of Jeanty and wants to continue to “challenge” and “pressure” him to get him there. Kubiak did relent a bit, reasserting that “it’s important to have a quality second back,” but in his eyes, “the best player has got to play,” and he wants to get that best player “on the field as much as (they) can.”
Charlie Kolar Could Be Chargers’ TE1
Following the strong rookie campaign of Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II and the addition of veteran Pro Bowler David Njoku in free agency, it seems odd to assert that Charlie Kolar — TE3 for the Ravens last year — will be the new TE1 for the Chargers. However, that’s just what Daniel Popper of The Athletic is seeing out of Organized Team Activities in Los Angeles this past week. Popper’s assertion is based mostly on the observation that Kolar is the best run blocker of a group that includes Gadsden, Njoku, and three undrafted rookies.
Over the course of four years in Baltimore, Kolar only amassed 30 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. He essentially redshirted his rookie year behind veterans Mark Andrews and Josh Oliver and fellow rookie Isaiah Likely. With Andrews limited to only 11 games in 2023, Likely took over a lot of the position’s receiving opportunities, while Kolar mainly saw the field as a run blocker. He continued to specialize as a run blocker in his third season, and in the final year of his rookie contract, Kolar led the room in run blocking snaps.
Popper doesn’t see Kolar as a one-trick pony, though; he believes that Kolar has “upside as a pass catcher” and that the complete skillset will give him more consistent opportunities than Gadsden or Njoku. Kolar demonstrated his receiving abilities during his time at Iowa State. In his final three years as a starter for the Cyclones, Kolar totaled 157 receptions for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns in 36 games. Though he was only targeted 41 times in Baltimore, Kolar routinely graded high as a receiver, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), with his only two drops coming in his sophomore campaign.
Njoku has the most starting experience of the three by far. Formerly a first-round pick for the Browns out of Miami (FL), Njoku showed a ton of promise with a strong Year 2 but saw injuries derail the rest of his rookie contract. He didn’t find his stride again until returning to a full-time starting role in 2022 then earning Pro Bowl honors with career highs in receptions (81), receiving yards (882), and receiving touchdowns (6) in 2023. Originally thought to be a pure receiving tight end out of college, Cleveland utilized Njoku in a balanced role from his fourth year with the team up until the last two seasons. While he’s got plenty of experience, he’s never graded very high as a run blocker, per PFF.
Gadsden quickly earned a major role in Los Angeles, starting seven games as a rookie and catching 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Simply by being on the field more than his tight end teammates last year, Gadsden racked up a good number of run blocking snaps, but his usage trended heavily towards receiving plays and his run blocking, when he was on the field, left a lot to be desired.
Should Popper be correct in predicting Kolar as the future TE1 in Los Angeles, Gadsden and Njoku will almost certainly still get their receiving opportunities rotating in off the bench. Kolar’s run blocking abilities could potentially put him on the field as a starter, though, and if his receiving abilities can shine in the increased exposure, Kolar will have a great opportunity to carve out a consistent starting role on the Chargers offense.
Texas Tech, QB Brendan Sorsby Appeal NCAA Decision
As expected, following the NCAA’s denial of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby‘s reinstatement for the 2026 college football season, Sorsby’s team has filed an appeal. The team’s argument (via Ross Dellenger fo Yahoo Sports) leaned heavily on the framing of Sorbsy’s gambling problem as an issue of mental health and asked that, in lieu of the revocation of his remaining eligibility, the NCAA consider a two-game suspension.
In it’s denial, the NCAA stated that it “did not find any circumstances that warranted reinstating (Sorsby’s) eligibility.” By citing the specifics of Sorsby’s diagnosis and transgressions, the appeal attempts to paint the situation as one without precedent. In doing so, the team argues that the NCAA wouldn’t be following the precedent set by past players who have gambled and been caught; instead, it would be setting a new precedent for punishing a player who admitted to and sought treatment for his mental health disorder.
The team’s appeal obviously argues that Sorsby struggles from a gambling addiction, the mental health challenge that perpetuated his continuous activity, but the first instances of betting could not have been a result of a developed addiction, so they’ve framed that, too, within the scope of mental health.
As a report today from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and David Purdum detailed at least 2,900 bets at Indiana, alone, totaling more than $30K in wagers, including at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team and its players, Sorsby’s physician asserted that the quarterback’s first bets were the result of “an adjustment disorder with anxiety that caused him to place those bets to feel part of the team.”
That assertion seems to be coming from pretty far out of left field, but if they can successfully establish the ordeal as a result of Sorsby’s struggles with mental health, it will be difficult for the NCAA to continue denying his reinstatement. The team’s appeal cites the NCAA’s own mission statement, grabbing snippets such as “fostering (student-athletes’) lifelong well-being” and promoting “a culture of care.”
The appeal attempts to shift the focus of the punishment away from Sorsby’s transgressions and towards his ultimate decision to seek treatment. The appeal states that “imposing a career-ending sanction on Sorsby will send the message to current and future athletes hiding in the shadows of the stigma of mental health challenges and addiction that they need to stay silent and never seek help or treatment because the NCAA will take a punitive approach by automatically applying the maximum sanction.” By instead imposing only a two-game suspension, the appeal argues that the NCAA would “be sending an important signal to current and future student-athletes that seeking treatment for an addiction does not have to mean ruining your future.”
The release of the appeal and the documents detailing just how far Sorsby’s gambling went on the same day set up a battle of perception. The 40 bets he placed on his own team only totaled around $850, ranging from $1 to $114, but that represents only a microcosm of his habits. Utilizing “accounts registered in his name, a family member’s name, and friends’ names, Sorsby placed at least $90K in impermissible wagers” through four separate betting sites. He reportedly had to transfer up to $60K to friends in order “to cover bets made on his behalf.”
If Sorsby’s team is successful in convincing the NCAA to view the entirety of Sorsby’s gambling history as actions stemming from struggles with mental health, he stands a strong chance of getting to play out his tenure with the Red Raiders. To this point, though, the NCAA has been adamant that it will not negotiate a settlement to reinstate Sorsby. It will be interesting to see if the team’s mental health appeals successfully scare the NCAA away from its current conviction. Will it see a maximum sanction as disincentivizing future student-athletes from gambling or disincentivizing future student-athletes “from seeking the help they desperately need?”