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

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-23 23:07 UTC · Category: Sports

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

## Intelligence 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.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Sports | ‘It’s All About Lane Kiffin’ — Paul Finebaum Slams LSU HC for Shattering ‘Norms’ by Bringing NFL TE Back to College | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxQWHl3bXVKZENCd3dnYngzOEFiM1JyYVpRTW94b2Nmd2QxazdTSTZsMFBFSElzTUU2eTBINWEtMHBueU44Vm1WU2toZTdhT0I5cVBFTmg3TU1FMm00bTFUNjFoZU1VZ1dNbGlsamVIdk02SjdmX0kzSHdHYlI5U3Y3WDE0YUkwWW8?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | LSU About to Make History with Dae’Quan Wright Return Post Browns’ Waiver | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxNTFUxYnVyb19XRnNoUUZ5eDEtYmdhREk0Z3d1d3lmbTBLUS0yWUhrREZnSGYwUkFBejRVcENnWmFLWU9Gb01ReUt4X1dMb3R2NUpncHg1SFpkRTZiRmlGN2FDNmp1UDFXY2VGV1hKUld5WWo5OXFsekZJZXF0LVpuTlp3?oc=5) |
| FOX Sports | TE Dae’Quan Wright Reunited With Lane Kiffin At LSU Following Court Injunction | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPRmdCcllpTkdCWVdfU1dQRGZzc1BMXzZHX3owNHk0SXNobDNPQ1F1YnJHZ0ZrNkk3UzdrYVV3QzEwV3Qwb3BrSk5OWlNQdWFsMXlYZEE0ZTJfbFplQS02U1VEeEFFV2hxekRmVHoyRTBVNURVcWFBY2F4bkk0X3BfNGFuRlpEQk40c3pGNmZkTVpGdE5pZ0NRX3lEY3lScWNkVXRJVkNIdkJocmJUWmgtcHowZnNmUEdnRWFvNNIBvAFBVV95cUxQenBndVZsVnprZFRlaUFac2ptRlRZSldhbXFuMWNudjZoSUNiVlRlQzJZaGpUa0NleTZMaGM0Q0hFaktHNF9rd09ZdHZvUi1ERlJ3YVNqaHFKMTBneDFHLXhGcnhZVndCS1NDVG1yT0pPZXNCUzJScC05aUo3NWdkeGlNMVlQWmxMWWFNM1VxVmlfd3VvcnR) |
| Sports Illustrated | Pat Forde: College Sports Has Abandoned Restraint With Its NFL-to-NCAA Pipeline | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPQ3RQdW9JOWNhbWVTZ0lnakFVZUpKOGRycnpNRkdVdEp4ZVlWSXNfVWl3WE9tMXc2UEh3M3kxUUxPSkJ4Z2JqQmZ5aDFMY2YzcUFtMTBuZmdUWUtNUTJSVHJ2RDZzUVRydG5IcDYyNnhhUmdEN1FHQnUwRjlDNlZiUHFqVzdqcWktcEg4XzZZMnRtM21lYkhXMGs2SXZBbTJFb0U3NUdNNXhhYU5uQUZLaE4zWDY?oc=5) |
| Austin American-Statesman | Texas' Steve Sarkisian reacts to cut NFL TE Dae'Quan Wright's return to college football | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxPNzBWR3RNUUpoVjRhdXd2WlJ1YXhMWGQ2OEswSE5RNEo4d0hDVVpPbV9FY3JTYWJ3cGY4S1JaSmVESnlDZVFHV0dDMkVRVzJETXlwRDlueGlNbEpOMlh5QnNoaGlsTDBzRlRwcGczSnZfVkVzbHA4czg3cUw0Ui1aNzl3a0sxZGhzcWpNRGR5akFlZWNyVTVPRHNwTE9BcUppaUZxQzVCMzl6YV82MDRkNQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dae'Quan Wright's eligibility fight highlights another huge college sports problem: Coaches refuse to say 'no' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi_wFBVV95cUxQeDREWHBySjRUZEc3OGxIMDV3STMtN2JkVnUtYlJhMWdoandNYlNybDFZME5UdS12ZUhVNDBDb29nM3lpTDkySjd6dFo0ZHFVclg5cWxFOEZoVWxpUEZOeU9IUzF4QnpONWFSY0NUdGREUkZlSmNTTzVRc2V2bDg5Q3FpeVhtNlFCQUZQNklCd1BVVU80dHltWGtKUmU0dkpXWlM1N1Z5aEpxMW5ocE5QUmRCOVl2ZFd4SGlmV0ZaWXpuNnYtSFV3Qm5sNUlSSnJVYXc3MGI5a3RmMVVFU0ljVGYtanF2Wjlod0pLbTVoQVkxcHVpREl4T0dwTEJJeHc?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Lane Kiffin Explains Recruiting NFL's Dae'Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris to LSU | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxOakR2RlZOTDMza2FVSHdFczNHaGo5TFkyUnFUVS1YQXVHXzEwX2NNNllqanEzcnlhWE42SENmVTFuRWQyN1lNUmR2MGV3YXFidjAwV0djeHQ1cXFrU216dFVYTDNFRnRzMVR0MUZGMk9saTlDeVVoT2gxdE83bzdfeWM5bWtEUmh6WTlxMWRVRFVib2VuZVRZY3pvUUxfb0ppQkZJNXVnSXJvWWVSakxXMlFmYXQ0UQ?oc=5) |
| ESPN | LSU's Lane Kiffin defends pursuit of NFL players returning to college | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPX0pXNHVHeHlpNjNHZ2hMZDZkV3hyQUZ2OHZ2Q1UySjZvSjhpOGdjVnNKTDFGQkVGakdVaEFQaXAwMURjSzFRbHlLU2hJMTk4WWRhTXctWnN6YldoUzZoMTN6TmlqZGFGallqZUxVZ1lzN011WHNHdkFUYXRrQjFnbnktYVJMcmtkYXVySUdGR3lNQmlOQnh5Y2NqNDBNQ2l5NEU3NVRBS3hUQUNEamwtZm5sbXB3RWt6aEpR?oc=5) |
| Los Angeles Times | NFL training camps become Lane Kiffin’s latest recruiting landscape thanks to court ruling | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxPLWo3MTVSRXBlYVp0dVZPVlpYSWtLZlNJS1ZjNzZHRmc1NW9TSkRYbGZ3WTV4MFc5MGJmbTR5VFhhX1VJMUR0ZG51MDk0eURndThibjZDdTM1TldoQlBwNmRycW1xQ0MyLVI5T3BxMllWS1JwRF94WThFcjZXbXdiOFhOLW9pU1gyWHdpRmxJdDVoOVEta181S2NoU0p3WDJIOGxyVE9KNXNUeWk3aVREb2IyWFZTMnp3dG9vQVZNWlVFck9ta2VhbQ?oc=5) |
| NOLA.com | Lane Kiffin defends move to add NFL players to LSU team. ‘This is a very unique circumstance.’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxOMHlQMnFxbXdfYzZjcGhfOXA3Q0Y3R3pDczBWME9xUV9CQzUxQjNxUUhDMVdLYmtZNnlPeEE4enRqbVZEMWFPbFgyX0hMLWk1ZmtHcC01SkVySjhTU0hIWEpydW9TNXpqOFJIUjh0V0U0aUt1SmNvUkV1bnhBeUxJNDBZcHdOd21sQzUtNTZKU3J4cUF0b3RjSTg2c1ZXSk1USjJNbDNZVDRycXRDV1VKZGwxenVoQ0RwYTBYTXhWQVpoQm4yTHNyY2NxbEQ?oc=5) |
| AL.com | What did Ohio State’s Ryan Day say about former NFL players returning to college? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxQMTVTbXV0WnhjNnNldFVFeFJERVlHRDFUbzNCeE5UZmpFQVRORmgycVQ2RjM0ekw0X3BZSm52dlFxUGlod1lXOEJkX1lpSkFEZWhTUVgyMmZxMm9ReXlfYldINnY3d3Y2WFhqdEUxNnZsX2c0aHVQdzNXY0c3OXpWQ3NEYXZ6UGZuMmZXMGFKUW1KS0xIVW94cEhtOERvTGI1enpXY0lrVVB2MDhlZl9WMmVtSW9ibWdGWVE?oc=5) |
| Fox News | LSU’s Lane Kiffin fires back at NFL returnee backlash: Blame the NCAA, not us for recruiting pro athletes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQX1NfRm5CNldDT0JSSjlISmZfX0xLRi1RR2kxczNITmpjNjVXSUJOcTJPaHpwTTdJVC1naF9qb3RkZEJrcGVMUXJXUTJiTXo5MU9mVHh1bWFpeUFzUXJFMGtNWXJiYVBEbXJTRXpZdmNuVk11SGhwZlFXbW9BZ0RTd052bFNDbDNoekNId1NDZG8tNTRtRHNEbFRPM05nanhxOGkxS2hCOEFQQkJwYTgzUUZlSktQN1JPaTJfZy1FZw?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports | Browns officially waive Dae’Quan Wright, who plans to play college football | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0AFBVV95cUxPWWNBTEFneUhSVzVnUnk1UzFJNFZnWm4xWTRKa3Y4b1NMZUxsS0lQbjBjc2NvQW5BSG9aREd3WWVHeEQtR3Bhb3NCSVNlN25NUEdzTHRmX2VFNm9HSDNqYS14WkRsSHBfVUxEek5ZVmNLZk9CZGR4R09pNUNOb1Qwa1dNXzVlaTBpMTdkZVpSLW93d2JUZ1VCQkc3UWpteGh6VndVamVvRmpqamVyWks1WUhNTzVlVEp1Rm14MnJNNUdnRTZfQjllZEJJUWhVc1dM?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | LSU spent over $40 million on its roster. So why is Lane Kiffin recruiting NFL players? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxPWUZKMXd3Z2hlYktjR0JUX1FueW1DRDloM2JOSm5XcDUzQnI4RzdpV1hpV1NvWDlqTUIzdVg2NzVlMlZQbnZHUGRZNmR1Mm9pd2FoOWZJUzUxcXNZc3JyWk5XNlpzNXNyVFlQLV8zU2lEdkRaZDB3cUVwY0JBMGFCT0tLLWQ2UWFkNXhGRks3dzNsZ2Zk?oc=5) |
| AJC.com | Former Perry star Dae’Quan Wright goes from NFL to ... LSU? Take a bow, NCAA. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxOM3RYMW1CVVVPY2hUR1JRNjloQ1J4bUlfMWN1V0lHY3pkUDRkLWszUUNveXRaOWluenpybE11R0IwU2p5WXQ4T1BXZDFCemh5dVZFVXNleE5SMW9VUmpfbzEzY25MT1hEcVEyUG9NY0xNY1dJQzlta05OeDB6Qlh5dDdCOVA5d3N0aF9Oel9Ta0hiRktVbG8td1FFSXJRa2kwLWtXdW0xQ0lLQQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-23/browns-will-waive-dae-quan-wright-who-has-agreed-to-play-for-lsu*