Before the 2025 NFL Draft began, the Cleveland Browns owned the second overall selection and looked primed to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. That was until they shocked the football world by trading down with the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire the fifth overall selection, which they ultimately used to select Mason Graham, a defensive tackle from Michigan.
As OTAs and minicamps wrap up for most clubs, rookies have started signing their initial contracts, shifting their full focus to the field. The Browns have added Graham to the list of rookies who have put pen to paper, but how does Graham’s deal stack up against third overall selection Abdul Carter or his newest teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders?
Cleveland Browns Sign Top 5 Pick Mason Graham to Rookie Contract
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Browns have officially agreed to terms with Graham on a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth $40,874,191.
Graham became the third of the top five picks from the 2025 NFL Draft to sign his rookie contract, joining Carter and first overall pick Cam Ward.
Graham’s deal is similar to Carter’s, who was selected just two spots ahead of him. The New York Giants agreed to pay Carter $45.2 million over four years, and like Graham’s deal, it’s fully guaranteed. It’s not surprising that Carter landed the higher deal, as he was once considered a candidate for the first overall pick.
Graham isn’t the only Browns draft pick making headlines after the draft. Sanders, the Browns’ fifth-round pick, has also agreed to his rookie contract with Cleveland.
The #Browns and first-round pick Mason Graham have agreed to terms on his four-year, fully-guaranteed $40,874,191 deal, per his agents Ryan Matha and Ryan Tollner of @excelfootball. Another Top 5 pick done. pic.twitter.com/UeVtG9Sowj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 27, 2025
Sanders falling to the fifth round and becoming the second quarterback selected by the Browns, when many expected him to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board, was one of the biggest storylines of the draft. But that’s behind the quarterback out of Colorado now. His focus is on developing in Cleveland, especially with contract talks now in the rearview.
The Browns agreed to a four-year deal with Sanders worth $4.6 million. However, unlike most top picks, not all of that is guaranteed. Sanders received a signing bonus worth $447,380, which is the only guaranteed portion of his contract.
Sanders’ deal is drastically different from Graham’s in terms of both value and structure, which isn’t surprising considering their respective draft positions.
Graham’s rookie deal closely mirrors Carter’s because of how close they were selected and the potential both bring to the table. The two former college All-Americans are expected to be franchise-building blocks in New York and Cleveland.
The Browns traded down to take Graham, a player they had targeted for a long time, to strengthen their defensive line. With All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett already causing chaos off the edge, Graham adds another force on the interior.
Now that his four-year, fully guaranteed deal is signed, the Browns have shown they believe in Graham with a major financial commitment. The spotlight shifts to him as he looks to prove his value and help make one of the league’s most feared defenses even better.