If the Rams end up needing another quarterback next year, whether it’s because Matthew Stafford retired, and/or Stetson Bennett is no longer on the roster, then the currently jobless Brendan Sorsby would be a great option in the 2027 draft.
Unable to play in the NFL, the CFL, or for a college program in 2026, Sorsby will be taking a year off following his sports gambling scandal at the NCAA level, betting on Indiana’s games while he was a member of the team. The NFL has separated itself from Sorsby this year by deciding to not have a supplemental draft, and so is the Canadian Football League after they officially barred Sorsby from signing with a team this year.
But as a player who has better tools than Bennett, and a ceiling comparable with some of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft, the Rams should take a long look at Sorsby as a day two or day three option now that he’s barred from playing football this year.
This is really unfortunate, as playing in the CFL would have been a fascinating opportunity for Sorsby to prove to the world—and the Rams—that he’s a rising star.
And he wouldn’t be the first. Here are a handful of great stories that started in the CFL, an opportunity that the league has decided to deny itself of with Sorsby.
The CFL as a stepping stone
Some will ask, “Would the CFL be a viable stepping stone?” The answer is a resounding yes! Here are three quarterbacks in particular whose professional careers began in the CFL and who, between them, have won multiple NFL awards and a Super Bowl. One of them has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jeff Garcia
Began his professional football career with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders as an undrafted free agent in 1994. During his five-year tenure with the Stamps, he was a four-time all-star and led the team to a Grey Cup victory, where he was named MVP. Garcia ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in passing and rushing, peaking in 1997 with 4,573 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.
In 1999, Garcia debuted in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. With the Niners, Garcia made three Pro Bowl appearances (for the 2000, 2001, and 2002 seasons) and led the team to the playoffs in 2001 and 2002.
Joe Theismann
Was selected 99th overall in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins and in the 39th round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins. After prolonged negotiations with the Dolphins failed, Theismann elected to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for $50,000 per season. During his three years in Toronto, he led the Argos to a Grey Cup and was an All-Star twice.
In 1974, the Washington Redskins obtained Theismann’s rights from the Dolphins in exchange for the team’s 1976 first-round draft pick. Like the current LA Rams, the Redskins at that time had their own FT picks philosophy; in fact, they drafted in the first round only three times over a twenty-plus year period. And, just like the Rams picking Ty Simpson this season with Matthew Stafford firmly in charge, the Redskins were actually set at the QB position with both Billy Kilmer and future Hall of Famer, Sonny Jurgensen, on the roster.
Theismann, naturally, was itching to get on the field, but he was third in the batting order in the QB room, so what did he do? He volunteered for punt return duties. It turns out he was pretty good at it, returning 15 punts for 157 yards with an average of 10.5 yards per return and a long return of 44 yards during his rookie season. He finally saw some QB action in 1975, and from 1976 to 1985, he started 124 games, leading the team to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning in 1983, the season he also won league MVP. He was also voted to two Pro Bowls along the way.
The Hall of Famer
Warren Moon
Went undrafted in the 1978 NFL Draft primarily due to pervasive racial bias against Black quarterbacks at the time. Rather than selecting him to play quarterback, many teams offered to draft him as a wide receiver or defensive back. Unwilling to change positions, Moon bypassed late-round draft interest (which was only guaranteed as a backup or a converted player) and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
He must have thrived on the poutine.
Warren Moon played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1978 to 1983, during which he was truly remarkable. He won an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cup championships (1978–1982) and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1983 before moving on to his renaissance in the NFL. While in the CFL, Moon threw for 21,228 yards and 144 touchdowns during his 96 regular-season games, including his unbelievable 1983 season, when he threw for a staggering 5,648 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, and he was named a CFL All-Star and the Schenley Most Outstanding Player.
In 1984, Moon made his highly anticipated transition to the NFL, signing with the Houston Oilers. In his first season, Moon set the Oilers’ single-season record for passing yards (3,338). By the conclusion of his tenure in Houston in 1993, he held the franchise’s top six single-season passing yardage totals.
In 1990, Moon was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year. That same season, his nine games of 300 or more passing yards tied the NFL single-season record set by Dan Marino in 1984.
Traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1994, Moon continued to produce at an elite level. He set a franchise record with 4,264 passing yards that season and broke the club record for pass completions in consecutive years — 371 in 1994 and 377 in 1995. His 33 touchdown passes in 1995 matched his career high from 1990 and established another Vikings single-season franchise record.
At age 41, Moon continued to defy expectations. With the Seattle Seahawks in 1997, he led the NFL in passing yards per game (245.2), set franchise records for pass completions (313) and passing yards (3,678), and earned another Pro Bowl selection.
In his NFL career, Moon amassed 3,988 completions on 6,823 attempts for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns during his 17 NFL seasons.
At the time of his retirement, Moon ranked third all-time in both completions and passing yards, and fourth in touchdown passes. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls with three different teams, cementing his legacy as one of the most prolific passers in pro football history.
Sorsby would thrive in the CFL
Mobile quarterbacks with a good arm, who can throw accurately while on the run, are the quintessential QBs in the CFL. Sorsby owns all of those skills. If he had flown under the radar and been allowed to play in Canada, he might have increased his value to potential NFL suitors by showing out. As it is, his options are severely limited for the upcoming year. How much can he do to stay on teams’ radar with a year off? Not much, I suspect.
Perhaps if he doesn’t get chosen in next year’s draft, he’ll choose the route taken by a hall of famer, eh!
