Auburn football has the second-best odds to land ASU transfer Jaden Rashada according to oddsmakers, but that doesn't mean they should dedicate the NIL resources -- and risk disrupting the hierarchy in the quarterback room -- to land him.
In fact, given Rashada's flighty past, it's best to avoid him altogether.
Now, to be fair, Rashada is looking for his third school because his first school, Florida, guaranteed him a $13.85 million contract with a Gators collective that it never had any intent to pay up on. Technically, though he signed his NLI with UF, he was never a member of Billy Napier's roster.
Still, giving up on ASU as it transitions to the Big 12 under second-year head coach (and former Tigers OC) Kenny Dillingham is not a good look. In what will be a make or break year for Hugh Freeze and Co., bringing in a disruptor who may not even be able to play his way into the QB1 job is a massive risk.
Hugh Freeze not likely to replace Auburn football QB1 Payton Thorne with inexperienced transfer
Freeze has repeatedly stuck by Payton Thorne as his QB1, and based on the snap allotments during the A-Day spring game, that doesn't appear likely to change. Thorne looked the part of a starter as the exhibition progressed, throwing perhaps his best ball as a Tiger to Robert Lewis on a post route in the third quarter. His touchdown toss to Cam Coleman was underthrown but the star freshman bailed Thorne out.
It's unlikely anyone, let alone a transfer, would beat out Thorne at this point. As AU continues to build a roster capable of improving upon a six-win season in 2023, the defensive line and the receiving corps should be the team's focus in the transfer portal.
Not a talented but troubled prospect like Rashada.