If Mark Franklin says so, it must be true.
If it's a power ranking, I'd flip Triston and Will, and #3 is way too high for KB. He's always liked KB.
https://idolchatteryd.com/ranking-the-top-14-on-american-idol-2/
Triston is a little green, but he's a perfect TV character. He's not my first choice, but I wouldn't be mad if he won. Will probably doesn't need it...he'll be fine either way. I'm not sure from this group who the label might be interested in, besides those two, honestly. Maybe Emmy?
it's one thing to "throw" the competition if it's like Final 7 or Final 5 and you don't want to get stuck with the winner's contract. however, it is not logical to throw the competition at Final 12 when there are still multiple rounds of the competition left. that will just make you look like a flop and you risk losing support beyond the show. the contestants are still at the phase of the competition where they have to prove themselves.