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Browns will waive Dae’Quan Wright, who has agreed to play for LSU

Former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright is set to become the first NFL player to return to college football by joining LSU.

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47d agofirst detected

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The brief

The Cleveland Browns are expected to waive tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who has reportedly reached an agreement to join the LSU football program for the 2026 season. According to reports from ESPN and On3, Wright will join the LSU roster via the transfer portal if he successfully clears NFL waivers. Wright, a former star at Perry and previously a player for Ole Miss, is seeking a fifth year of college football eligibility. This transition marks a historic shift in athlete movement between professional and collegiate levels, as coverage from Fox News and The New York Times notes that Wright would be the first NFL player to return to the college game. Major outlets including Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, and Bleacher Report emphasize the role of LSU coach Lane Kiffin in pursuing Wright.

While Sports Illustrated suggests that this addition could make LSU's tight end room the best in the SEC, other coverage focuses on the institutional chaos this move represents. ESPN's Wetzel suggests the NCAA should have anticipated this eligibility confusion, while Fox News asserts that the NCAA created the current situation. The New York Times and NOLA.com confirm the move involves Wright entering the transfer portal as a fifth-year senior to join Kiffin's roster in Baton Rouge. Contextual coverage highlights significant friction regarding the legitimacy of this move. Paul Finebaum, writing for On3, has predicted that Wright will not actually play for LSU, citing a very narrow path for such a transition.

Furthermore, Yahoo Sports reports that a Heisman winner has characterized the ability for NFL players to return to college as gross negligence, arguing that college football should be ashamed. Observers are now waiting to see if the NCAA will provide formal guidance on the matter, though Yahoo Sports notes the organization has already declined to comment on Wright's return. The immediate next step is the official waiving of Wright by the Cleveland Browns and his subsequent clearing of the NFL waiver process. If these conditions are met, Wright will transition from the professional ranks to the LSU program. The sporting community continues to monitor the impact of this move on the transfer portal and the broader rules governing collegiate eligibility for former professional athletes.

Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (94% supported) Updated 46d ago.

Quick answers

Who is Dae'Quan Wright?

He is a tight end for the Cleveland Browns and a former player for Ole Miss and Perry who is set to return to college football.

Which college team is Wright joining?

Wright has agreed to join Lane Kiffin's LSU program for the 2026 season.

Why is this move considered historic?

According to Fox News and The New York Times, Wright would be the first NFL player to return to college football.

Coverage (30)

Topics

Dae'Quan Wright LSU Cleveland Browns Lane Kiffin NCAA Transfer Portal

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