The problem (or one of the problems) with DeSantis is that he can’t win on his own merits. As you said, his only chance is for Trump to drop out and endorse him. He can’t win, he can just be carried across the finish line.
It is a competition and he needs to fight to win if he is going to have a chance. But he comes across as a wimp. He should be going toe to toe with Trump and proving why he is the better choice. Not riding the line of trying to not overly upsetting the big bad Trump.
If DeSantis would grow some balls and be his own man, he has a good chance. But as long as everyone thinks his only chance is for the front runner to quit and endorse him, he will fail.
Trump is only in the position he’s in because he has the largest core of supporters whose #1 priority is commitment to him regardless of his many drawbacks and really don’t care about losing the general election. I’m convinced that he could announce a detailed amnesty plan and still win the primary, which would kill any other campaign. He’s already campaigning like a Democrat railing against Social Security and Medicare reform. In a large field, these unreasonable and unpersuadable people loom large over the process.