"The deal will include $75,000 guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter."
That’s a bigger bonus than some 7th rounders
I think that this worked out OK for him. He got some say in where he wanted to sign. He stayed in Buffalo. He got a late round size guarantee. He already has his degree. He would not have a master's if he stayed another year. Exactly how much better do you think the contract would have been next year? He gets the money and a start on his life, whatever it turns out to be, a year earlier. I'm sure he was hoping for the best and maybe a stretch 5th round pick but this really is far from a disaster. A kid with a degree doesn't have to take another year's beating on his body for nearly entirely the profit of others at that point if he doesn't want to. It depends on how much he likes being BMOC, if he thinks there is still significant improvement to be made in is stock, and if he can afford getting injured.