Browns waive Dae'Quan Wright, who plans to reunite with Lane Kiffin at LSU
The Cleveland Browns have waived rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who has an agreement to play for LSU for the 2026 season if he clears waivers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who cited agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln. The move would make Wright the first player to sign with an NFL team, participate in training camp and preseason, and then return to college football.
Wright, who went undrafted in April, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent before being claimed off waivers by the Browns on Aug. 11. He did not play in Cleveland's two preseason games. The 22-year-old spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Ole Miss under then-Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, recording 39 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns in his final season while helping lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff.
Wright entered the transfer portal on Wednesday after a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order to a group of athletes who had filed a lawsuit seeking a fifth year of eligibility. The class of 2022 was excluded from the NCAA's new rule allowing five seasons of eligibility over five years, which took effect this year, prompting legal challenges from athletes who argued they were unfairly deprived of education and potential NIL benefits.
Players' path to fifth year
In June, the NCAA approved a rule allowing athletes to play five seasons over five years, but the Class of 2022 was excluded because their eligibility had already expired. That led to a wave of lawsuits, including a federal case in Denver where a judge ruled in favor of the athletes, though an appeals court later halted that order Friday. Separately, state lawsuits have been filed in multiple jurisdictions, with at least 10 including Louisiana granting temporary restraining orders to affected athletes.
Wright is one of 16 football players named in the Louisiana lawsuit, which also includes former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and safety Wydett Williams. Harris, who was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 8, is expected to join LSU as well, giving the Tigers another veteran presence on the defensive line fresh off a season where he posted 58 tackles and three sacks.
Reactions from coaches and players
Browns head coach Todd Monken was asked about Wright's situation after the team's preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, acknowledging the unusual circumstances. "Man, isn't this crazy? I mean, as far as I know, he's had a medical issue that wasn't allowing him to practice," Monken said. "That's a medical issue. It has nothing to do with me. ... 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."
LSU coach Lane Kiffin did not respond to requests for comment, but former LSU player Breiden Fehoko criticized the move on X, writing, "I am an LSU guy and I have absolutely no respect for this bulls—. This is just straight up b—- made s—. What are we doing???" Oregon coach Dan Lanning called the trend of players leaving college and returning "unfair to the sport."
Financial and eligibility implications
According to ESPN, Wright must repay the $25,000 signing bonus he received from the Eagles as part of his transition back to college. He is expected to be eligible for the Tigers' season opener against Clemson on Sept. 5, although LSU has not yet confirmed his status.
Wright's return to college football comes after a Louisiana court granted a temporary restraining order that allows athletes from the Class of 2022 to return for a fifth season, with a hearing scheduled for Aug. 31 to consider a longer injunction. The order also reopens the transfer portal for a week-long window, which allowed Wright to enter.
SEC and NCAA response
While the NCAA has said it will continue to evaluate its eligibility rules, the SEC has not commented on whether it will allow intraconference transfers under these circumstances. The university's athletic director did not immediately respond to requests for comment.