Dae'Quan Wright enters transfer portal: Browns TE, ex-Ole Miss star eyeing college football return

Key Points:

• Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright became the first active NFL player to enter the NCAA transfer portal, leveraging a Louisiana judge's temporary restraining order on the NCAA's five-year eligibility clock.
• Wright, who went undrafted but joined the Browns' practice squad, is exploring a return to college football despite having signed multiple NFL contracts and participating in training camp, creating a new precedent for eligibility challenges.
• The ruling has opened a window for NFL players on training camp rosters or the roster cut bubble to return to college football for the 2026 season, potentially on NIL or revenue-sharing deals, complicating NFL roster decisions.
• Other players affected include former Seahawks running back TJ Harden and Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to use his fifth year of eligibility, along with several former NFL signees expected to enter the transfer portal.
• This development marks a significant shift in college football eligibility rules and recruitment, allowing college coaches to now recruit players currently employed by NFL teams, a scenario previously considered impossible.