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On Boxing Day, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins might have gotten a multi-million dollar gift as his competition to be the top overall quarterback taken in the 2019 NFL Draft declared that he would return to Oregon for his senior season.
Big news for #Oregon and the NFL draft: Ducks QB Justin Herbert is returning for his senior season in 2019.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 26, 2018
Though Haskins had been trending up and passing Justin Herbert in many mock drafts, the Duck QB was the only other signal caller vying for the eight-figure honor. Of course, Haskins has not yet officially declared for the draft, and all reports are that he will sit down with family, coaches, and advisors following next week’s Rose Bowl to make a final decision.
But, with Herbert no longer standing between him and being the top QB taken, that could spell a monster pay increase for Simba, assuming nothing unforeseen happens between now and late April.
Most mock drafts have Haskins being selected in the top 10, with the many recent ones projecting him into the top 5. With a solid performance against the Washington Huskies in the Granddaddy of Them All, and an impressive NFL Combine and Pro Day, Haskins could be en route to guaranteeing himself somewhere between $18-$33 million dollars.