IMO, it appears NIL really just comes down to how much one wants to pay a player, especially the top players, for their services. And, payment for their services is primarily done so to the extent in which an entity/school believes it can help them attain the most success.
It is, IMO, 100% pay for play, no matter what facade, loophole, etc. anyone attempts to place on it.
In Jesse's case, based upon what I've read here, SU offered him in the vicinity of $350,000 to play here one more year. He left as apparently the highest bidder is allegedly doubling this.
How does SU, or anyone for that matter, actually come up with a figure? I mean, how many folks in the SU community purchase numerous Jesse's number T's, authentic jersey's, etc.? Does Jesse really drive up ticket sales? Are more folks (eyeballs) watching SU simply because Jesse is on the team, etc. etc. This was a Syracuse team that went 17-15, not close to being ranked all season, missed the Dance for the second year in a row, etc.
And, in the cases of prep, high school recruits, etc. that have yet to even set foot on campus, what is their true NIL? These minor types really haven't accomplished anything of substance/significance, productivity, truly establishing an actual name for themselves, etc., etc., so what really is their true NIL? I would bet a significant amount of coin, that the vast majority of fans (other than us fanatic types here, etc.) have ever even heard of them until they arrive on campus. Most, until the season has well begun, multiple games played, watching, etc., will only then possible ponder, man, who's this X, Y or Z player we got, he seems pretty darn good, or along those lines.
Or, is it more what it truly is, how much will one entity pay another for his services rendered to perform at a particular school, etc., in hope of success/ROI, because that's what truly happening. And, this facade, etc. of calling it NIL is a farce to infinity and beyond levels.
