Cleveland Browns Coach Todd Monken Baffled by Rookie TE Dae’Quan Wright’s Unusual Transfer Portal Move

If you’re confused about what’s going on with Cleveland Browns rookie Dae’Quan Wright, you’re not alone — Browns head coach Todd Monken doesn’t seem to know either.

Wright made headlines this week after showing up in the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday — despite being signed with an NFL team. Wright, a former tight end at Ole Miss, had signed a free agency deal with the Philadelphia Eagles after going undrafted; he was waived by the team earlier this month and claimed by the Browns off waivers.

Monken, though, could seemingly only laugh as he was asked about Wright’s status in a press conference after Saturday’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“Man, ain’t this sh** crazy? I mean I don’t even know what to say,” Monken said.

Monken said that Wright was dressed and on the sideline for Saturday’s game, though he didn’t end up taking any snaps.

“As far as I know, he’s had a medical issue that wasn’t allowing him to practice. And that’s a medical issue, it’s nothing to do with me,” Monken said. “Then he was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him, but when you don’t rep, it’s hard to put him on the field.”

Wright is just one of a few players on professional contracts who entered the portal as part of a bid for another year of NCAA eligibility after four years in college. A judge granted a temporary restraining order to a group of these players earlier this week, allowing some players to transfer back to college despite being on NFL rosters — something the NCAA has long tried to ban.

This specific round of NCAA madness began earlier this month, after a different judge granted a fifth year of college eligibility to members of the high school class of 2022. The NCAA is appealing that ruling.

Though Wright isn’t the only pro player to try and revert back to college, he did become the first to take advantage of the loophole. As part of the ruling this week, the players in the group were allowed to enter a week-long transfer portal to try and land with a college team.

Monken, meanwhile, seemed to be shrugging his shoulders at the highly unusual situation. He did, however, mention that new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin — and Wright’s former coach at Ole Miss — had tried to contact him.

“I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago, now I know. Sh**, I didn’t know, now I know. I didn’t call him back, guess I should’ve,” Monken said.

Notably, the ruling was made by a judge in Louisiana, and the primary plaintiff is former LSU starting edge rusher Jack Pyburn. Three of the players in the group, including Wright, are former Ole Miss players who could potentially choose to reunite with Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

For now, Wright will continue to practice with Cleveland now that he’s been medically cleared. After that, it’s unclear if anyone knows what’ll happen — including Monken.

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