Remember, we desperately needed an end rusher so we paid $650k to outbid Texas to get Ochaun Mathis. Frost and TC were desperate to save his career.
For Rouse, he's a 1 yr rented mercenary. Rhule already has a grace period for that first season. I just don't know how wise it is to spend more than you want on a one year OL rental. If rather use it on 2-3 yr players. Or add it to the Dylan Raiola fund.
Every big school CAN pay huge NIL, question is do they want to? Texas COULD have outbid us for Mathis, but they chose not to.