Give the Heisman to someone else, but…

[BigOrangeTrain]

Anybody on this site bad mouthing any of these players for opting out when they are projected day 1 or day 2 picks, has never been in a situation where they had to risk millions of dollars to play a meaningless game.

Really? Let’s see now. Here is a list of the #1 overall picks since 2000.

2000- Courtney Brown (played in his last bowl game)
2001- Michael Vick (played his last game)
2002- David Carr (played in his last game)
2003- Carson Palmer (played in last game)
2004- Eli Manning (played in his last game)
2005- Alex Smith (played his last game)
2006- Mario Williams (played in last game)
2007- Jamarcus Russell (played in his last game)
2008- Jake Long (played his last game)
2009- Matthew Stafford (played his last game)
2010- Sam Bradford (injured)
2011- Cam Newton (played his last game)
2012- Andrew Luck (played his last game)
2013- Eric Fisher (played in last game)
2014- Jadaveon Clowney (played last game)
2015- Jamie’s Winston (played last game)
2016- Jared Goff (played in last game)
2017- Myles Garret (played last game)
2018- Baker Mayfield (played last game)
2019- Kyler Murray (played in last game)
2020- Joe Burrow (played in last game)
2021- Trevor Lawrence (played in last game)
2022- Travon Walker (played last game)

So there you have it. Now I do strayed on first round picks only as they are usually the ones that get huge contracts. And that’s 22 years of first round pics with ZERO opt outs. So you can just gtfoh with that oh you don’t understand or had to risk millions garbage. All of these players risked millions yet still played. Bryce Young and Will Anderson riskwd millions yet chose to play. The guys I listed, they aren’t quitters.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Young is very good. His ability to buy time in the pocket to extend plays is really impressive. Reminds me of Russell Wilson or Donovan McNabb.

 

[Carp]

Really? Let’s see now. Here is a list of the #1 overall picks since 2000.

2000- Courtney Brown (played in his last bowl game)
2001- Michael Vick (played his last game)
2002- David Carr (played in his last game)
2003- Carson Palmer (played in last game)
2004- Eli Manning (played in his last game)
2005- Alex Smith (played his last game)
2006- Mario Williams (played in last game)
2007- Jamarcus Russell (played in his last game)
2008- Jake Long (played his last game)
2009- Matthew Stafford (played his last game)
2010- Sam Bradford (injured)
2011- Cam Newton (played his last game)
2012- Andrew Luck (played his last game)
2013- Eric Fisher (played in last game)
2014- Jadaveon Clowney (played last game)
2015- Jamie’s Winston (played last game)
2016- Jared Goff (played in last game)
2017- Myles Garret (played last game)
2018- Baker Mayfield (played last game)
2019- Kyler Murray (played in last game)
2020- Joe Burrow (played in last game)
2021- Trevor Lawrence (played in last game)
2022- Travon Walker (played last game)

So there you have it. Now I do strayed on first round picks only as they are usually the ones that get huge contracts. And that’s 22 years of first round pics with ZERO opt outs. So you can just gtfoh with that oh you don’t understand or had to risk millions garbage. All of these players risked millions yet still played. Bryce Young and Will Anderson riskwd millions yet chose to play. The guys I listed, they aren’t quitters.

About 3/4 of those guys you listed played for a chance at a national title. So those games weren't meaningless.

I can list a TON of other guys who sat out. I can also list about as many guys who chose to play and proceeded to get a major injury that likely costs them millions of dollars. And it ain't just about where they fall in the draft coming off an injury, because typically major injuries linger, which affects performance and future contacts as well.

So no, you can GTFOH with judging a 20-22 year on the difficult decision they have to make to secure this future. When you go risk your health and millions of dollars, maybe your opinion will be relevant.