NFL rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright enters transfer portal, eyes college comeback
Cleveland Browns rookie Dae'Quan Wright became the first active NFL player to enter the NCAA transfer portal, seeking to return to college football amid recent legal rulings on eligibility.
Cleveland Browns rookie and former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday, marking the first time an active NFL player has done so, according to sources. Wright, who was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 draft and is currently on the Browns' practice squad, is among a growing group of players considering a return to college football following a temporary restraining order issued by a Louisiana judge that affects the NCAA’s five-year eligibility clock.
Wright recorded 113 receptions for 1,603 yards during his college career at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, including 1,029 yards in his final two seasons with the Rebels, and earned second-team All-SEC honors. After going undrafted, he signed with Philadelphia before being claimed by Cleveland. While his NFL contract remains in place, the portal entry gives him leverage should he be released before the regular season.
The legal backdrop stems from a Colorado court ruling earlier this summer that granted extra eligibility to members of the 2022 recruiting class who had not signed NFL contracts. A subsequent clarification by Judge Charlotte Sweeney on Aug. 2 confirmed that players who have signed NFL contracts remain ineligible for a return under NCAA rules, yet teams continue to discuss potential options with affected athletes.
NFL teams must cut their rosters to 53 players by Aug. 30, creating a window for released players to pursue college eligibility for the 2026 season, potentially under name-image-likeness or revenue-share agreements. This development allows college coaches to recruit athletes currently under NFL contracts, a scenario previously considered impossible.
Other athletes have followed Wright’s lead, including former Seahawks running back TJ Harden, former Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding, former LSU edge Jack Pyburn, former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, and ex-South Carolina safety DQ Smith, all of whom are expected to enter the portal.