Cleveland Browns Rookie Dae'Quan Wright Enters Transfer Portal as First Active NFL Player Dae'Quan Wright, the Cleveland Browns' rookie tight end and former Ole Miss standout, has entered the NCAA transfer portal, becoming the first active NFL player to do so, according to sources cited by CBS Sports. Wright, who joined the Browns' practice squad during training camp after going undrafted in April, is one of 16 players—many more are expected—to take advantage of a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted by a Louisiana judge. The TRO challenges the NCAA’s five-year eligibility clock, creating a time-sensitive window for players in NFL training camps or on the cut bubble. Wright, who caught 113 passes for 1,603 yards during his collegiate career at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, including 1,029 yards in his final two seasons with the Rebels, was undrafted in April despite earning second-team All-SEC honors at Ole Miss. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but was later claimed by the Browns. While his NFL opportunity remains intact, the transfer portal provides him with leverage to pursue a college return if he is released before the regular season. The legal battle over eligibility rules gained momentum following the Louisiana TRO, which creates a window for players in NFL training camps or on the cut bubble. NFL teams are set to trim their rosters to 53 players by August 30, potentially allowing released players to join college teams for the 2026 season under NIL or revenue share contracts. A Colorado court ruling earlier this summer initially allowed players from the 2022 recruiting class to use their fifth year of eligibility if they returned to college football, but the court later clarified that NCAA rules still apply to players who have signed NFL contracts.#ncaa #ole_miss #cleveland_browns #transfer_portal #dae_quan_wright
An NFL player, LSU and a legal loophole: College football's bizarre eligibility fight is getting wild A former Ole Miss tight end, now signed with the Cleveland Browns, has entered the NCAA transfer portal despite being in training camp with the team. This unusual move is part of a broader legal battle over college football eligibility rules, with dozens of athletes challenging the NCAA’s new five-year, age-based eligibility policy. The situation has escalated into a chaotic mix of lawsuits, court rulings, and strategic maneuvering by schools and conferences, highlighting the growing tension between amateurism and professionalism in college sports. The controversy began with a lawsuit filed in a Louisiana court, where a judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing athletes to gain a fifth year of eligibility. This decision, made by Judge Will Jorden, also permitted players like Dae’Quan Wright—now with the Browns—to enter a newly created transfer portal, bypassing the NCAA’s longstanding ban on pro athletes returning to college. The ruling was a major victory for players who argue they should receive the same eligibility benefits as their peers, even though they signed professional contracts. The Louisiana case is just one of many. Over 150 athletes have filed 18 eligibility lawsuits across 15 states, with 11 judges ruling in favor of the players. These rulings typically include injunctions preventing the NCAA from enforcing its rules, allowing athletes to compete while their legal battles continue. A separate federal case in Colorado further complicated the situation, as a judge granted a class-action ruling that gave a fifth year of eligibility to all players from the 2022 high school class.#ncaa #lsu #judge_will_jorden #dae_quan_wright #sec_commissioner_greg_sankey
