every team with a good qb is forced to either “overpay” for them right away out of high school (see Underwood , Bryce) or out of the portal .Problem is, QB is the most important position on the field, and if you don't 'homegrow' them, you are forced to overpay in the portal to get one. Case in point this past portal season when we don't have a homegrown solution ready so we need to spend a large chunk on a QB which cascades into not having budget for retention and not being able to fill gaps in the roster
they aren’t cheaper if you land them earlier . there is really no such thing as loyalty anymore . It just what it’s evolved into .