Shedeur Sanders is officially an NFL member- and although the path to get there wasn’t exactly what a lot of people thought, he’s here where it counts: on a professional football team with an actual chance to shine.
On Monday, the Browns confirmed that they had signed Sanders to his rookie contract- a four-year deal for $4.6 million. The quarterback was selected in the fifth round with the 144th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. For a guy once projected to be a top draft choice, that figure raised some eyebrows. But it doesn’t alter what lies in store for him.
Sanders will make roughly $1.16 million annually, with the signing bonus of $446,553, as per Spotrac. That is a significant fall from what he could have made as a top-five draft pick. Players who are selected in that area tend to sign contracts worth more than $40 million. His Colorado teammate, Travis Hunter, was drafted second overall and signed for $46.5 million.
Only a few months before, there were many who thought Sanders could go that high. He’d had a great collegiate career and a $6.5 million name, image, and likeness (NIL) valuation—one of the highest for college football players. Despite that, Sanders chose to forgo his last year of eligibility and draft into the league. That risk didn’t pan out financially—at least not yet—but it did take him to the NFL.
And that’s where things can change quickly.
In Cleveland, the quarterback room is competitive, but no one has claimed the future starting spot. That means Sanders may not have to wait long for an opportunity to play. He’ll compete with other quarterbacks, including Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted two rounds before him and is likely to sign a contract worth $6.2 million.
Though Gabriel arrives with a higher draft ranking, Sanders arrives with star power and promise. He’s accustomed to pressure, and being the son of NFL great and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is just gravy on top. But Shedeur appears to be willing to keep the priority on football, not celebrity.
The draft did not go as he had hoped. He did not receive the huge paycheck many envisioned. But in the NFL, it is not the way you begin—it’s the way you continue. If Sanders continues to play well, this may be just the tip of the iceberg for a long and prosperous career.
Now that the contract is inked and the dust has settled, only the work remains. Sanders has his foot in the door. The rest depends on him.
