Good players cost money. I’m sure they wanted to keep Hendrickson, Armstead, and Williams too. Frankly, that’s the only vision that makes sense that allows the rookie to play meaningful snaps in the next few years, aside from special teams.
I get what you are saying, but those named are not on the same level of importance to this team’s future imo. Saying Ceedee could walk is like saying we let Lattimore or Ram walk more so, then the names mentioned above.