Shedeur Sanders’ NFL career didn’t start the way most fans, or even Sanders himself, expected. Once projected as a potential top-10 pick and even discussed as a possible No. 1 overall selection, the quarterback faced a much different reality on draft weekend.
Selected in the fifth round, Sanders saw his draft value take a hit and took a financial blow with a much smaller rookie contract. After spending his college career under the spotlight, he now faces a very different reality in the pros.
How Does Shedeur Sanders Feel About His Rookie Contract?
During his time at Colorado, Sanders became a true college football star. His jersey was even retired, and his partnership with his father, Deion Sanders, was one of the most talked-about stories in sports. His name quickly rose in early 2025 NFL Draft buzz, with some viewing him as a possible top-10 pick.
But reports during the pre-draft process suggested Sanders may have come across as arrogant and didn’t fully understand what NFL teams wanted to see during interviews. That perception led to his unexpected fall to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him.
The drop had a major impact on his rookie contract, which ended up much smaller than what he would have earned as a top-10 pick. Asked about it, Sanders didn’t seem too worried. He said his focus is all about football.
“To get my first rookie contract, it’s lit. I just go to practice every day, bro, it’s no difference,” Sanders said on his podcast.
Because rookie contracts are slotted by draft position, Sanders, picked 144th overall, signed a four-year deal worth $4,646,553. That’s less than what he earned in college through NIL deals, which totaled $6.5 million.
For comparison, Cam Ward, picked first overall by the Tennessee Titans, is expected to sign a rookie deal almost 10 times larger than Sanders’. Ward’s four-year deal, with a possible fifth-year option, is projected at $48,757,500.
Still, Sanders is excited about joining the Browns. He’ll now compete for a spot alongside Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel in a quarterback room widely considered one of the weakest in the league.
Coming from a strong background and already having financial security of his own, Sanders’ rookie deal may not have met his early expectations, but it still gives him a chance to prove himself.
If he performs, he could set himself up for a much bigger payday once his four-year deal is up.
