Shedeur Sanders hasn’t locked down a starting job at Cleveland yet, but he’s already winning in the bank account. The Cleveland Browns rookie racked up a jaw-dropping $17.7 million in licensing income during his first NFL season.
According to Cam Newton, there’s one person in Cleveland who should be very worried about that.
Cam Newton Explains Why Dillon Gabriel Is the Biggest Loser in Shedeur Sanders’ Rise
The former NFL MVP pointed straight at Dillon Gabriel as the biggest loser in this whole situation.
So why Gabriel specifically? There are only so many reps, headlines, and resources available in a quarterback room, and Sanders is already absorbing most of them.
Newton framed Shedeur’s financial success as proof of something bigger. He implies that the Browns were not among the most marketable brands in NFL history. But thanks to Sanders, they are suddenly generating real commercial buzz.
“This was probably the first time that the Cleveland Browns probably seen a color other than red with the losing season,” Newton said. “So it’s good business.”
“Anytime you have a generational player like Myles Garrett and still losing jersey sales to a 5th-round pick, brother,” the ex-NFL MVP said. “This is only bad news for one person and one person only, Dillon Gabriel,” he added.
Time has run out on Dillon Gabriel ⌚️👀 pic.twitter.com/GWetKB5H27
— 4th&1 with Cam Newton (@4thand1show) June 5, 2026
The reported $17.7 million number doesn’t even include jersey sales. Shedeur’s father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, made that clear in a recent interview.
“I don’t know if people really dug into that,” Deion said. “It has nothing to do with his jersey sales. That’s a whole other category. It was just licensing cards or whatsoever. So I’m happy, I’m truly happy.”
Deion also revealed the two have ventured into a joint property investment together. “We went 51/49,” he said. “I gave him the upper half, the controlling interest of property on an island that we love.”
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The business resume is growing fast. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Shedeur is already worth around $14 million. All of that, despite starting just seven games in the NFL.
That’s the reality Gabriel is living in. His teammate, a fifth-round pick, is outshining one of the best defensive players in football in the merchandise department.
Gabriel, a third-round pick with far less star power, doesn’t register. He is in a tough spot, both on the field and off it. There have been reports that suggest he is not in the team’s long-term plans.
Gabriel scored an F in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric last season, and his rookie season backs up this evaluation. The former Oregon Ducks star led the Browns to a 1-5 record over six starts.
The Browns’ QB room is now packed. Cleveland heads into training camp with four quarterbacks: Sanders, Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, and rookie Taylen Green. Watson and Sanders are expected to battle for the starting job, while Gabriel and Green compete for the developmental QB3 spot
Sanders arrived as an NIL megastar out of Colorado and never stopped building. Gabriel, by contrast, has no comparable brand infrastructure, which is why Newton’s point lands hard when you look at the numbers.
Sanders may still need to prove himself on the field. But in the business of being an NFL quarterback, he’s already miles ahead — and Gabriel is caught right in his shadow.
