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Browns’ Dae’Quan Wright Becomes First Active NFL Player to Transfer

8/24/2026

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Summary

Wright Joins Transfer

Dae'Quan Wright, Browns tight end, was waived and entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Wright became the first active NFL player to join the NCAA transfer portal.
He agreed to play for LSU in 2026 if waivers clear.
A Louisiana restraining order kept fifth-year eligibility for Wright and 15 others.
NFL teams must cut rosters to 53 by Aug. 30, opening a window for released players to return to college.

Summary

Judge Extends Eligibility

Louisiana judge issued a restraining order on Aug 20, granting 16 former athletes a fifth year.
The order lets the athletes enter the transfer portal for only one week.
NCAA rule gives five seasons to those who start college by age 19, excluding the 2022 class.
Kentucky court cleared former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos to play this season.
The order is part of a broader wave of 2022-class eligibility challenges.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA opened its Transfer Portal on October 15, 2018 to let athletes publicly announce moves, and a 2021 rule let Division-I football players transfer once without losing a year of eligibility. In 2026, after a Louisiana judge ordered his release, Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright became the first professional to enter the portal and commit to LSU, highlighting the portal’s expanding role.

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Wright Joins Transfer

Dae'Quan Wright, Browns tight end, was waived and entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Wright became the first active NFL player to join the NCAA transfer portal.
He agreed to play for LSU in 2026 if waivers clear.
A Louisiana restraining order kept fifth-year eligibility for Wright and 15 others.
NFL teams must cut rosters to 53 by Aug. 30, opening a window for released players to return to college.

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