Interesting how quickly people warm up to Smock when he dares to talk about herd fans and agrees with them... but that when he doesn't, he's unprofessional and a not so smart. Ain't it?
Well, I... still... think Smock is a very substantive, compelling writer... and offers some strong points... but.
But while I'll stop well short of saying anything close to the conclusion that Chase should have made the decision he did, I believe Smock would have been better to have recognized that there's a stronger argument for Chase's decision than what he acknowledges here. For instance, that the history that says if you're one of the top 12-ish QBs there's an awful good chance you're going to be, at minimum, on an NFL practice squad as UFA, and with a strong combine, potentially even sneak into the back of the draft.
And that a relative bird in the hand is not necessarily inferior to two in the bush. (Rockhead evidently tweeted today to concur with that.)
Right now, the first takes by actual people employed in the scouting profession appear to rank him in the 8-12 range.
It's just not as cut-and-dried as Smock suggests with the factoids he's cherry-picked. But maybe... maybe... this is all a ploy because he's secretly under mandate from his boss to make kissy face with the herd fans (?).
We're all certainly allowed to have our opinions, but Chase has to look out for Chase and make the best decisions for his future as he sees fit. We say that all the time about this player and that player who leaves our program prematurely. Doesn't apply any less for him as far as I'm concerned.