Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavien Harris are officially men without options for the entire 2026 football season, caught in a truly bizarre, unprecedented limbo. First, LSU slammed the door shut on their potential return to college football. Then, compounding the issue, the NFL itself re-slammed the door on their potential comeback to the pros this year. It’s a double whammy that has left these two former NFL tryout players with absolutely nowhere to go for the duration of 2026, leaving them stranded and without a clear path forward.
The League Made a Rule Out of Thin Air
This whole mess is especially frustrating because the NFL apparently just made a rule on the fly, with zero precedent to guide its decision. Seriously, think about that: a major professional league just drops a new, impactful stance without any clear agreement from the NFLPA. Wright and Harris were former NFL tryout players. They then made a business decision, seeking another year of college football. But LSU rejected them, slamming that door shut. Now, the NFL’s position is that because they explored college options, they can’t return to the NFL for the 2026 season. This is even though they never actually returned to college football, remaining in this unique, unclaimed state. It simply makes no sense for the players involved. These guys have clearly gotten the short end of the stick, stuck between two doors that just won’t open, through no fault of their own, but rather because of an unwritten, unagreed-upon rule.
The NFLPA Is Exploring All Options
Don’t think for a second the players union is just going to let this unprecedented situation slide. Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports reported that an NFLPA spokesperson confirmed they are “aware of the memo and are in touch with each of the players’ representatives.” The union is making it crystal clear they are ready to “explore all options to ensure each player’s rights are protected within the Collective Bargaining Agreement.” That’s not just talk, that’s a direct shot across the bow, signaling potential legal action. Drew Rosenhaus, who represents Wright, also told Christovich that his client is already “considering his legal options” based on the NFL’s current position. With the league seemingly creating a rule without clear agreement from the NFLPA and no precedent, it absolutely sounds like a grievance is not just possible, but highly likely. The players union could, and perhaps should, file a grievance to challenge this decision.
This isn’t just about Wright and Harris, it’s about the integrity of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and how players are treated when navigating their careers. The NFLPA is digging in its heels on this one, and you know they won’t back down easily when players’ rights are on the line. What happens next could set a huge precedent and fundamentally change how the league handles these unique player situations forever. We’re watching to see how the NFL responds.
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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