re: I don't understand why there is any debate regarding Burrow

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If he's guaranteed the job and the other guys know that then we're going to lose one of them, maybe two. And who would blame them?

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I think you're right. And I wouldn't blame them. That's why O may publicly say there is a "competition" while privately promising Burrow the starting job in order to get his signature.

Is that kind of chickenshit? Probably. But it happens every within every recruiting class. And fair or unfair, Ogeron doesn't have the luxury of "developing" one of the current guys on the roster. They have to be ready NOW. The fanbase isn't going to accept a 5, 6, 7 win season this year on the promise that better times are to come next year because we "developed" one of our QB this season. If that QB is better next season, but O is gone because of the poor results this season, then what incentive does he have to pass on a transfer that can help him NOW in hopes of developing one of the guys on already the roster? He won't see any fruits of "sacrificing" this season.

If they sign Burrow it's because the coaching staff thinks he gives them a better chance to win this season than any of the guys currently on the roster. If that means one or two of the QB's on your roster leave as a result, then that's just the risk he has to be willing to take/accept.

Gus Malzahn did it with Stidham even though he had his QB returning after an 8-4 season with a Sugar Bowl appearance. He knew a repeat performance in 2017 wasn't going to save his job and he didn't think any of the (then) current QB's on his roster could get him where he needed to be. The gamble paid off with a 10-2 regular season and West title in 2017. In essence, O is trying to take a similar gamble.