The Browns are moving on from tight end Dae'Quan Wright, and that could send him right back to college football.
Wright is being waived by Cleveland, and his agents told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he already has an agreement lined up with LSU if he clears waivers. If that happens, he would become the first player to leave an NFL roster and then return to college to play.
That path makes Wright one of the most unusual names in a growing eligibility fight. The 22-year-old was one of 16 players recently given a temporary restraining order by a Louisiana judge, a ruling that allows them to carry a fifth year of college eligibility. That decision also gave those players the chance to enter the transfer portal, which Wright did after the ruling.
Wright’s college and pro path has moved quickly. He played at Ole Miss from 2024-25 under now-LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, went undrafted in April, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, was waived on Aug. 10, and then joined the Browns the next day.
His situation has already drawn attention inside the league. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was openly critical of players at NFL camps trying to head back to college, calling it "unfair to the sport." Browns head coach Todd Monken was asked about Wright after Saturday’s preseason game, where the tight end had been seen warming up before kickoff.
"I mean, ain't this shit crazy?" Monken said, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.
"I don't even know what to say. I mean, as far as I know, he's had a medical issue that wasn't allowing him to practice. ...
And then he was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him. But when you don't rep, it's hard to put him on the field."
Monken also said, "I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago. Now I know.
I didn't call him back. Now I guess I should've."
Wright is not the only player tied up in these eligibility cases. Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass-rusher Jack Pyburn was also among the 16 players covered by the Louisiana ruling. Pyburn had three tackles and two sacks in the preseason opener against the New York Jets, but he has not entered the transfer portal and is still deciding what to do.
The legal picture is still evolving. There are ongoing cases in other states that could open the door for more players to gain an extra year of eligibility. In Kentucky, a judge granted a temporary restraining order that allowed former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos to enter the portal after he took part in minicamps with the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins.
These court fights started after the NCAA introduced a new eligibility rule that lets athletes compete in college sports for five seasons. Even so, that rule did not apply to players who began college in 2022.
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For LSU, the broader point is simple: the pipeline never really shuts off. The Tigers have stayed in the top 10 of recruiting classes in recent years, and Sabans remarks only reinforce the idea that Louisiana gives the program a built-in edge before the work even starts. Even as coaching staffs change and the recruiting landscape keeps shifting, LSU continues to benefit from being in one of the countrys most productive talent pools. [Read more 🡒]