In a truly bizarre twist, a player who is currently on an NFL roster has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright has become the first player to enter the transfer portal while signed to an NFL roster. Wright, who played for Ole Miss last season, is allowed to enter the portal thanks to a court ruling on Wednesday granting a number of former college players the right to another year of eligibility.
NEWS: A judge in Louisiana has granted a group that includes 16 football player –including several in NFL training camps this summer — a restraining order to allows them to return to college sports this season, per me and @DanMurphyESPN. pic.twitter.com/fUMzBolvbp
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2026
Wright is the first player to take advantage of this, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, even though he is currently in camp with the Browns.
Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright has entered the college transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 20, 2026
The former Ole Miss star is currently on the Browns’ roster. pic.twitter.com/0uvkWI7zk4
The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules to grant players five years of eligibility, but exempted the class of 2022 from that change. They were quickly sued over that stance, and judges are finding in favor of the players. Players in NFL camps are eligible to play in college in 2026 if they are no longer on an NFL roster by September 1.
Wright is an undrafted free agent who spent time in Philadelphia Eagles camp before landing with the Browns. The tight end was a key part of the Ole Miss offense last season, tallying 39 receptions, 635 yards and five touchdowns.
Wright probably will not be the last player on an NFL roster to enter the portal and try to take advantage of that added year of eligibility. The big headache will be finding programs that have space for them. No wonder coaches in all sports are not particularly happy with this development.
