A Cleveland Browns rookie tight end has done something no active NFL player had done before. Dae'Quan Wright entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday, and may have already found his next destination.
Wright was waived by the Browns on Sunday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, as reported by CBS Sports, if Wright clears waivers he has an agreement in place to return to college and play for LSU in 2026. It is believed Wright would be the first former NFL player to return to play college football.
Wright caught 113 passes for 1,603 yards during stops at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, including 1,029 yards across his final two seasons with the Rebels. He went undrafted in April after earning second-team All-SEC honors at Ole Miss, signed with Philadelphia, and was later claimed by Cleveland. He spent time on the Browns' practice squad during training camp.
His situation stems from a Louisiana judge granting a temporary restraining order related to the NCAA's five-year eligibility clock. Wright is one of 16 players who plan to return to college as a result, with many more expected to follow. NFL teams must trim rosters to 53 players on August 30, which could push additional cut players toward the same path.
A Colorado court ruling earlier this summer initially opened the door for players from the 2022 recruiting class who had not signed NFL contracts to return to college. On August 2, District Judge Charlotte Sweeney clarified that NCAA rules would still apply to players who had signed NFL contracts. Despite that, teams have continued to contact players about potential returns to school, according to CBS Sports sources.
The Louisiana restraining order has created a time-sensitive window that goes further than earlier eligibility cases. College coaches can now recruit a player currently under contract with an NFL franchise.
Other players are moving in the same direction. Former Seahawks and SMU running back TJ Harden entered the portal after rushing for 2,445 yards and 21 touchdowns in his college career. Former Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding has filed a lawsuit in Illinois against the NCAA seeking the ability to use his fifth season of eligibility.
Wright's NFL opportunity remains intact for now, but the portal gives him leverage and a potential alternative if he is released before the regular season begins.
