The Cleveland Browns have waived tight end Dae'Quan Wright, clearing the way for the former Ole Miss standout to join Lane Kiffin's LSU Tigers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln confirmed Wright has an agreement in place to play for LSU in 2026 if he clears NFL waivers.
Wright is believed to be the first player to arrange a return to college football after signing an NFL contract as an undrafted free agent. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles after going undrafted in April, then was claimed off waivers by the Browns on August 11. He never appeared in either of Cleveland's first two preseason games and hadn't practiced in over a week, though he did dress for the team's preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
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The move traces back to a court order out of Louisiana. Wright officially entered the transfer portal on Wednesday after he and a group of athletes involved in a lawsuit were granted a temporary restraining order tied to the NCAA's five-year eligibility clock. That ruling opened a narrow, one-week window for the group to explore a return to college football—an unprecedented scenario that allows college programs to recruit a player currently under contract with an NFL franchise.
Wright played for Kiffin at Ole Miss during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, catching 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns last year alone, including a score in the Rebels' College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Miami. Across stops at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, he compiled 113 receptions for 1,603 yards and earned second-team All-SEC honors.
Browns head coach Todd Monken didn't hide his surprise when addressing the situation with reporters, joking that he now understood why Kiffin had reached out to him a week earlier. He admitted he never returned the call.
Wright isn't alone. Former LSU edge rusher Jack Pyburn—the lead plaintiff in the Louisiana lawsuit—along with several other players who signed NFL deals this offseason, are reportedly weighing similar moves back to the college ranks. The NCAA has not issued an official response to the ruling, and it remains unclear whether this loophole will close before other players can take advantage of it.
For now, all eyes are on Baton Rouge, where Kiffin appears to be building a roster with an NFL-tested tight end most programs could only dream of landing.