We know football is sometimes all about the money. When it comes to the NIL rules in college football, they give young, inexperienced players a platform to land big deals. But what happens when such a deal overshadows your five-star QB status? Or the skills you’ve worked hard to showcase over the years? It’s like kicking a beehive while you’re still chasing it. A similar situation has unfolded with Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava.

As many of you know, he was pushing for a bigger contract. But that pursuit may have led the team to part ways with him. What’s more concerning is how this could potentially impact Nico Iamaleava’s future in the NFL.

Albert Breer discussed the whole issue on the Colin Cowherd podcast. Cowherd asked Breer if the current transfer drama that erupted after the NIL deal would affect the QB. And Breer’s response? It was “yes”. The NFL reporter said, “I would say yes. And it’s not like any sort of death nail but I think from a developmental standpoint you know you do question what this is going to look like.” By saying this, Albert Breer wanted to point at Nico Iamaleava’s future in the NFL. 

Breer also added, “He’s going to be jumping on a moving train with another team. He was a good—not great—player at Tennessee last year. He’s got talent, but does that mean he’s going to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick, or a fifth or sixth pick in the draft? I think a lot of that is still to be determined because he is so young, and he doesn’t have a lot of experience.” When discussing Nico Iamaleava’s future in the NFL, Breer didn’t sound particularly optimistic. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope for Iamaleava—a chance to reset, prove himself, and change the narrative.

While discussing the transfer, Colin Cowherd and Albert Breer pointed to Cam Ward as a source of hope for Nico Iamaleava’s NFL future. Ward, who transferred from Washington State to Miami, proved himself in just one season—silencing doubts surrounding his mid-season move.

Breer subtly suggested Iamaleava should take a similar path. “There were a lot of these things going on with Cam Ward when he transferred from Washington State to Miami last year,” Breer said. “There were a lot of people around him and a lot of questions. But he played so well, it didn’t matter.” Ward delivered an impressive 2024 season, throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, with a 67.2% completion rate (305 of 454 passes).

The takeaway? Iamaleava should prioritize performance over contract negotiations because right now, his credibility is on the line.

Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Volunteers’ NIL drama

Regarding Nico Iamaleava’s rift with the Tennessee Volunteers, the quarterback reportedly demanded an $8 million raise in his NIL deal. That’s a significant jump from his current deal, which is just over $2 million. The team initially rejected his request. So, how did Iamaleava respond? He skipped the latest practice session on Friday.

That’s why the Vols have decided to move on from their five-star quarterback. Now, his family is reportedly working on transferring him to another school where he can secure a bigger NIL deal. Reacting to the situation, Clay Travis of Rapid Tennessee commented, “Not my call, but with Nico no-showing practice at Tennessee, I’d cut bait. You can’t have a team leader this immature. Really poor decision by his family.” That’s correct.  

Looking back at past transfers, stars like Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield—now leading the Bengals and Buccaneers, respectively—also transferred schools at one point in their careers. But as Albert Breer noted, Nico Iamaleava must follow a similar path. He needs to rise above the current controversy and prove himself on the field if he wants to make a name in the NFL and make everyone forget what happened in the second week of April 2025.