Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright is about to pull off a move that would have been absolutely wild, completely unthinkable, even just a few years ago. Get ready for this: he’s leaving the NFL, yup, the *National Football League*, to go play college ball for LSU this season. Seriously. This isn’t a drill, it’s not a rumor from some dusty forum, this is what’s happening.
The Gridiron Goes Wild: Rules Are Out the Window
This isn’t some low-key exit, folks. The Browns are waiving Wright, which means he’s officially on his way out of the pro ranks. And get this: he already has an agreement in place to play for LSU this season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Let that sink in. An NFL player, on a roster, is heading back to the NCAA. It’s a complete flip of the script that has governed football for, like, forever. For more than a century, the idea of an NFL player just deciding to bounce back to college was pure fantasy. But those old rules? Poof, gone, totally out the window. The NCAA has been taking L after L in court battles over player eligibility, to the point where they’ve barely got any rules left standing. It means Wright can literally play anywhere he wants in college. And he’s picked LSU. Talk about changing the game, right?
A Lucrative NIL Lure and a Familiar Face
So, why would an NFL tight end make such a shocking pivot? Well, it sounds like Wright has a seriously lucrative NIL offer waiting for him at LSU. Who wouldn’t be tempted by that? He clearly wants to play this year, and playing big-time college football with a sweet NIL deal seems to be his chosen path, with an eye on maybe coming back to the NFL next year. Now, there’s always a slight wrinkle in these things: it’s possible some other team could still claim him on waivers. That would definitely complicate matters, but from everything we’re hearing, Wright’s decision is made. He’s got his sights set on Baton Rouge. And he’s not going into a totally new system either. Wright actually spent his first two college years at Virginia Tech before heading to Ole Miss for another two seasons. Who was his coach there? None other than Lane Kiffin. And guess who will be coaching him at LSU now? Yep, Kiffin again. It’s a reunion! Even Browns head coach Todd Monken couldn’t hide his surprise, reportedly calling it “crazy” that a player currently on his Browns roster is making this kind of move. That quote alone tells you how unprecedented this situation is.
What Happens Next in This Wild New Era?
This whole situation just screams that the landscape of football, both pro and college, is evolving at warp speed. What does it mean for player movement going forward? Could we see more NFL guys decide to take a lucrative NIL deal for a year or two in college? It’s uncharted territory, and everyone’s watching. What’s next for Dae’Quan Wright and for this wild new era of player power? We’re all just gonna have to stay tuned.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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