It is a Pat Kraft problem, and a Chesney problem. He has a stadium to pay for on top of a football team he is hoping gets back to championship caliber fast. That takes donors and a lot of money from them.
Chesney, or whoever the coach is, would be handcuffed in the portal and recruiting. That equals 8-4, not 11-1.
If he hires a guy the Donor Class wants and it flops, the money dries up just the same, the stadium is empty, etc.
If he hires a guy who can win a lot, the money will come out, the stadium is full, etc.
He can’t let the program be held hostage, nor can Chesney pass up this chance, because wealthy donors will pout. They’ll pout anyway so you can’t make decisions based on it. Kraft will get another job if they run him out, they all do, as will Chesney. So his one mandate is to pick the best football coach he can and not pass up one candidate, not one, he thinks is better than Terry Smith because he thinks the guy will only get 20 million to use but Terry will get 23 million.