The wild trend of NFL rookies begging to be cut after court ruling causes chaos throughout league

NFL roster cuts normally represent something players spend an entire summer trying to avoid. This preseason, however, several rookies reportedly have a very different request for their teams to release them now.

A series of court decisions challenging NCAA eligibility rules has created a potential route back to college football for certain players from the high school Class of 2022, including some who have already signed NFL contracts.

With the legal battle moving quickly, players on the fringes of NFL rosters now have another option to consider before the season begins. Former NFL executive Andrew Brandt highlighted just how unusual the situation has become.

“Now hearing of a few players going to their NFL teams and asking to be cut now (instead of likely being cut in two weeks) to go play in college again,” Brandt wrote on X. “What a time this is.”

The uncertainty stems from legal challenges arguing that affected athletes should receive another season of college eligibility. A Louisiana court added another layer Wednesday by granting a temporary restraining order involving 33 athletes, including 16 football players.

Some of those players are already much further along than simply preparing for another college season.

NFL contracts suddenly aren't only option

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Jack Pyburn , Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright , Seattle Seahawks running back Anthony Hankerson and Arizona Cardinals defensive back Wydett Williams are among the notable players caught up in the eligibility situation.

The possibility of returning isn't merely theoretical. Wright, TJ Harden, Zxavian Harris and Weylin Lapuaho have reportedly already entered the transfer portal.

Perhaps the most striking cases involve Pyburn and Williams , who have already appeared in NFL preseason games. Pyburn recorded two sacks for the Buccaneers , yet another college season could now potentially be available if the legal process ultimately goes his way.

The Browns , meanwhile, have been evaluating depth at tight end while Wright has been absent from training camp, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson.

There are financial considerations as well. Wright, Williams and Pyburn reportedly received signing bonuses below $25,000, while guaranteed salary provisions could further complicate what happens if they are released.

Court decision could create 'chaos'

The NCAA has strongly opposed the legal challenges and warned of broader consequences if additional eligibility is granted.

Senior vice president Tim Buckley said the ruling “invites further chaos in college sports and irreparably harms thousands of student-athletes already on campus.”

That leaves the players caught between an immediate NFL opportunity and the possibility of returning to college, potentially improving their draft stock and pursuing another season in a rapidly changing college football landscape.

Time is also becoming a factor. NFL clubs must reduce their rosters to 53 players by August 30, meaning decisions surrounding those on the roster bubble are approaching quickly.

Players have spent generations treating an NFL contract as the final destination after college. This eligibility dispute has produced the remarkable possibility that, for a handful of rookies, getting released might suddenly be the opportunity they're hoping to receive.