It feels odd that we felt compelled to pay Aguilar $1.5 mil when we dont even know (for a fact) that he is the unquestioned starter. I don't know if it was a belief by him and his team that they had Tennessee over a barrel, or what, but who else was likely to pay him that kind of money at that time?
Why Out of desperation do you a give a guy a million dollars just for the heck of it...unless, that is you aren't confident that either of the 2 you have on roster aren't ready. And I think thats what is going on. If JH was fully confident in Merk or Mac, you just go out and find a Gas Pipe for depth purposes.
Regarding #1, yes, he could have just stayed at UCLA, but he didn't. It's clear he wanted at least a shot at playing and I'd assume the second he hit the portal that his NIL deal with them was voided. Choosing to return there wouldn't have been near as profitable.
2 qbs isn't tenable. even if they had experience. and desperation is enough reason to give a guy a million plus.
I definitely agree you have to bring in a third guy. The point I'm trying to make, and this is purely speculation, it's just my opinion from the outside looking in. We brought in JA with the expectation that he is going to be the starter and that Merk isn't ready. It makes no sense to pay JA 1.5 mil to come here and sit the bench. I know Merk got a bump in pay and they had to do that to keep him from leaving. Going off the above, the plan is unchanged with him. He wasn't playing this year before Nico left and he's probably not going to this year either unless JA gets hurt or is completely awful. And remember with Milton, he wasn't just brought in for experience. He was brought in to be "the guy." JH hitched the wagon to him and only pulled the plug when he got hurt in the Pitt game. It just so worked out that Hooker took the job and never looked back. I think JH is gonna do the same with JA until there is not a reason to play him. Again, just my opinion.
I think @pierce60 said it best. I think JA was brought in to raise the floor of the quarterback room. JA gives some sort of base the coaches can depend on. with him the coaches get to try things out in the season. without him they would be stuck with a freshman and those ups and downs. JA at best raises some of those downs. its all a question of how fast/reliably can either of these guys hit their ceiling in this offense.
You could have done that by bringing back Gas Pipe for 200k. Why on earth would you spend 1.5 million to "raise the floor" of the QB room? Save that money and use it elsewhere if that's the case. If Merk was making more than JA I might could see the case for Merk being the the starter, but to pay a guy that much to come here for one season and never play is absurd. I think they've already explained to Merk that the plan hasn't changed. He was always going to backup this season, and that JA is only here one season. They gave him a bump in pay to keep him happy and he'll have a great shot to have the job in 2026.
