He May Be First to Sign NFL Deal, Return to College

Dae'Quan Wright may be about to test a boundary college football has never seen before. The rookie tight end was waived by the Cleveland Browns, and now he intends to return to the college ranks to play for LSU, reports ESPN. No player is ever believed to have made that kind of leap backward. Wright, who had signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent, has already officially entered the college transfer portal. It's possible he could still get claimed by another NFL team, which would "complicate matters," per NBC Sports.

"Man, isn't this s--- crazy?" said Browns coach Todd Monken. "I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago," he added, referring to LSU's coach. "I didn't call him back. I guess I should have." Wright's situation is wrapped up in a broader legal fight over NCAA eligibility rules, which generally bar players from returning to college after signing pro deals, per the Athletic. Wright is among roughly 30 athletes granted a temporary restraining order in Louisiana that could open the door to a fifth college season, and this loophole appears to be limited to them. (Expiring eligibility rules affect the Class of 2022 high school grads.) On the other hand, the "NCAA keeps losing court battles over player eligibility rules, to the point where there aren't many rules left," writes Michael David Smith at NBC.