The Ringer’s Todd McShay Talks Sorsby, ’27 NFL Draft QB Class & More w/ Rich

Todd McShay came on to talk about the Brendan Sorsby saga that never quite became a supplemental draft, and stayed to rank a 2027 quarterback class he thinks could be one of the best of all time. Along the way, he explained why Arch Manning is only fourth on his board.

First, the Sorsby situation. With no supplemental draft happening, McShay assessed what the talent alone is worth. He does not see Sorsby as NFL-ready right now, but the raw ability is undeniable. "Six-three, 235 pounds, live arm," McShay said, describing off-platform throws and arm-angle changes. "There's some Mahomes in his game." He compared the running element to a college version of Josh Allen or Tim Tebow, an accelerating, powerful runner on top of the arm talent.

The complication, McShay explained, is trust. After 26 years of doing this, the first question he asks about any quarterback is whether he can be trusted at the position. The gambling issues force a second, harder question. "Do I trust him?" That is where accountability comes in, and McShay laid out what Sorsby has to prove before the 2027 draft.

He drew on being a father to frame it. "I got to see a young man that takes accountability," McShay said, "and a young man that takes ownership." The read from the league, in his telling, was that Sorsby had not yet shown enough contrition. McShay's advice was direct: keep getting help for what looks like an addiction, own the mistake publicly in your own voice, and channel everything toward the Senior Bowl, where an invitation is already essentially accepted. "Show that you're at the big boy table now."

He praised Sorsby for settling rather than suing his way into the NFL, and Rich agreed the league was never going to hand him an easy path when a gambling matter is involved.

Then came the class McShay is most excited about. He is three parts into a series ranking the 2027 quarterbacks two at a time, fresh off the Manning Passing Academy, which he called the last form of pure football, a Field of Dreams weekend with 1,400 campers and prospects running drills with Eli and Peyton Manning.

His rankings surprised even him. Dante Moore sits atop the board as the best pure passer, NFL-ready and only needing to refine. LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina lands second, a gifted, still-developing talent McShay believes could push for number one. C.J. Carr, grandson of Lloyd Carr, comes in underrated at third.

And Arch Manning, whom McShay expected to battle for the top spot, comes in fourth. "Very similar grade to Carr just above him," McShay said, but he sees where Manning can improve as a passer, even as he marveled at the acceleration and speed of a 6-3, 230-pound runner when a play breaks down. Julian Sayin and Sorsby round out the six graded so far, with Sam Leavitt, John Mateer, Darian Mensah, Nico Iamaleava and Jayden Maiava still to come.

McShay also offered honest notes on Michigan's Bryce Underwood, calling this offseason critical and his passing last year insufficient, while giving grace for a first-year freshman's circumstances. "It's amazing what one offseason of reset, refine, and repeat can do for a quarterback."