Last week, a Louisiana judge opened the door for several players to temporarily return to college football after leaving the NFL. Former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright could become the first to use that ruling, as he is nearing an agreement with the LSU Tigers after being waived by Cleveland.
That move has already drawn criticism from former New England Patriots star Damien Harris. He believes NFL teams should think twice about players who choose college again instead of competing for an NFL roster spot.
Damien Harris Calls Out Dae’Quan Wright’s LSU AmbitionsDuring his appearance on CBS Sports College Football, Harris did not hold back about Wright’s decision.
“I think that this is embarrassing,” Harris said.
Wright initially joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent before the team waived him on Aug. 10. The Cleveland Browns claimed him the following day, but they also waived the tight end last week.
Now, Wright’s agents, Kyle Lincoln and Drew Rosenhaus, have indicated that he plans to play for Lane Kiffin at LSU in Baton Rouge if he clears waivers.
That path could give Wright another college opportunity despite already getting NFL experience. But Harris sees the situation as a warning for NFL decision-makers evaluating players who could make the same choice.
“You’ve got a guy who, as I said, has gone through and got NFL experience just to go back to college to make more money and have more opportunity that he’s already had in his time.
“He’s already had his time, and if I’m an NFL GM and I’m looking at guys like this who could potentially be coming out next year, these aren’t guys that I want to draft because I don’t know how competitive they are,” he said.
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Harris also believes teams cannot overlook a player’s desire to fight for his place. NFL clubs need players who will embrace competition and work through setbacks.
“I don’t know how much they love football; I don’t know how hard they’re willing to work in order to prove themselves on a football team and earn their spot,” he added. “I can’t guarantee that a guy like this is a guy that I would build a program around.”
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Wright’s college career began at Virginia Tech in 2022 before he moved to Ole Miss after two seasons with the Hokies. There, the tight end spent two years playing under Lane Kiffin and made a solid impact.
Wright finished with a PFN College Tight End Impact score of 80.6, ranking No. 20 nationally. He also recorded 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns.
Wright’s college eligibility expired last season, but a new NCAA rule gave Division I players five years of eligibility over five years. Because Wright fell outside that rule, he filed a lawsuit after the NCAA denied him another season.
Interestingly, during Monday’s edition of “Get Up,” Dan Orlovsky suggested Wright’s case could create a much bigger trend across college football.
“The old man in me doesn’t love any part of this,” Orlovsky stated. “But the floodgates are going to open. This is the first; it won’t be the last of this situation.”
Now, Wright’s return creates another challenge for Kiffin as he begins his first season in Baton Rouge after his controversial departure from Ole Miss. As a result, Kiffin’s approach to roster building remains one of the biggest talking points surrounding the Tigers entering the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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