Introduction
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright has made an unprecedented move by entering the NCAA transfer portal, potentially becoming the first former NFL player to return to college football. Brown's coach Todd Monken was caught off guard by the development, which came as the team prepared for its second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Monken's Reaction
"Man, isn't this s--t crazy?" Monken told reporters after the game, according to multiple outlets. "I don't even know what to say. As far as I know, he's had a medical issue that wasn't allowing him to practice. That's a medical issue. It has nothing to do with me. He was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him."
Monken also acknowledged a missed signal: "I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago, now I know. I didn't call him back. I guess I should have."
Kiffin, now head coach at LSU, had coached Wright at Ole Miss in the two previous seasons. Wright played for the Rebels in 2024 and 2025, catching 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns last season.
The Legal Background
Wright's move became possible after a Louisiana state court issued a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit challenging the NCAA's eligibility rules. The order granted Wright and several other players an additional year of eligibility, preventing the NCAA from enforcing restrictions on players who had signed professional contracts from returning to college.
The NCAA had overhauled its eligibility rules this offseason to allow five seasons of competition within a five-year period. However, athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 and had already played four seasons were excluded from the new system, leading to the lawsuit.
Wright was one of 16 players who entered the transfer portal following the injunction, and he became the first active NFL player to do so. Three other players on NFL rosters—Anthony Hankerson (Seahawks), Jack Pyburn (Buccaneers), and Wydett Williams (Cardinals)—were also part of the ruling. As of the latest reports, they remained with their NFL teams, with their plans unclear.
Court Developments
The legal situation has been fluid. On Friday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay order to the NCAA, potentially preventing the return of pro players, as reported by one outlet. The NCAA's senior vice president of external affairs, Tim Buckley, was quoted as saying that courts granting relief to ineligible athletes were "failing to appreciate the destabilizing effect" on college sports.
Wright's Path to the NFL
Wright began his collegiate career at Virginia Tech in 2022 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024. He entered the 2026 NFL Draft after two seasons with the Rebels but went undrafted. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in April, was waived on Aug. 10, and was claimed by the Browns the following day.
In Cleveland, Wright was listed fifth on the unofficial depth chart at tight end behind Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Jack Stoll, and Carsen Ryan. The team's tight end room has been hit by injuries, with Stoll placed on injured reserve and Ryan dealing with a foot injury.
Return to LSU
According to a report from ESPN, Wright has agreed to return to LSU for a fifth season if he clears waivers after being released by the Browns. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press on Monday that Wright would head to LSU if he clears waivers. Wright did not play in Cleveland's two preseason games.
LSU already has preseason All-American Trey'Dez Green at tight end, but Wright would add depth and experience. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end has career totals of 113 catches for 1,603 yards and nine touchdowns at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss.
Reactions from Analysts
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky expressed sympathy for both Wright and Kiffin, saying on ESPN GetUp: "The old man in me doesn't love any part of this, but the floodgates are going to open. ... I can't kill Dae'Quan Wright for going back and getting more money than he might have in the NFL. I can't kill Lane Kiffin for taking a player that he thinks is going to help him win. This is what happens when you have severe poor leadership over a long period of time."
Orlovsky blamed the situation on the NCAA's leadership, which he said created the circumstances for the move.
Potential Precedent
While the 2026 college football season is set to begin on Aug. 29, and the NFL season on Sept. 9, Wright's move could have broader implications. Prior to Wright, Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako had returned to college after stints in the G League, but Wright would be the first NFL player to return to college football, according to multiple reports.
Wright's contract with the Browns remains intact, and entering the portal did not automatically remove him from the roster. He would need to be released by the Browns before a court-imposed deadline to pursue college this season.
As the legal battle continues, the future of other players in similar situations remains uncertain, but Wright's case has set a precedent that could reshape the relationship between professional and college football.