Dae'Quan Wright is going back to college. The Cleveland Browns are waiving the tight end Sunday, and if he clears waivers, he has an agreement in place to play for LSU under Lane Kiffin this season, a move that is believed to be the first of its kind in the history of American sports.
The chain of events: Wright went undrafted in April, signed with the Eagles, was claimed on waivers by the Browns in August but never appeared in either of Cleveland's first two preseason games.
Earlier this week, a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order to 16 players, Wright among them, allowing them to return to college for an additional season of eligibility despite their NFL contracts. Wright immediately entered the transfer portal.
The Browns, recognizing his heart was elsewhere, are releasing him.
He played two seasons at Virginia Tech and two at Ole Miss under Kiffin, amassing 113 catches, 1,603 yards and nine touchdowns. He has a lucrative NIL or revenue-sharing deal waiting in Baton Rouge.
The NFL will be there next year. This year, Kiffin gets his tight end back.
"College coaches can now recruit a player currently employed by an NFL franchise," CBS Sports observed. "What once sounded impossible is now happening."