Whether Shedeur Sanders is playing or not, he remains one of the most talked-about rookies in the NFL. His first season, however, has not unfolded the way he imagined. Once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick, Sanders slid all the way to No. 144 and opened his career as the Cleveland Browns’ third-string quarterback, a humbling beginning for the former Colorado standout.
Nevertheless, things have started moving in a more positive direction. With veteran Joe Flacco traded to the Cincinnati Bengals and Dillon Gabriel taking over as the starter, a path to playing time finally opened for Sanders. He got his first real opportunity in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens after Gabriel went down, and now he is set to make his first NFL start in Week 12.
Shedeur Sanders’ Contract Details
Each year, the NFL sets the framework for rookie contracts, and naturally, the earlier a player is drafted, the more lucrative their deal will be. For Shedeur Sanders, that meant confronting a complex reality.
Once projected as a possible top-three pick, Sanders could have signed a four-year deal worth more than $45 million. His unexpected fall down the draft board, however, came with a sharp drop in earning potential as well.
Going to the Browns as a fifth-round pick and 144th overall, his contract is for four years and $4,647,380, just 10% of what his contract could have looked like. In 2025, that will amount to less than a million, with the exact number standing at $955,548.
However, after two days of anguish, the monetary angle might be irrelevant for the Colorado star.
Early in the draft cycle, there was real buzz around Sanders as a potential QB1 candidate. While Cam Ward eventually overtook him for that spot, Sanders was still widely expected to land within the top three picks.
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As the draft drew closer, however, his stock began to slip. That opened the door for teams like the New Orleans Saints, at No. 9, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, at No. 21, to become realistic landing spots, but neither team pulled the trigger.
From there, the slide continued. Five quarterbacks were selected before Sanders, including Tyler Shough and fellow Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel at Nos. 40 and 94. Both prospects were generally viewed as significantly inferior to the former Colorado standout. Sanders ultimately went 50 picks after Gabriel and now finds himself sitting behind him on Cleveland’s depth chart.
Sanders’ Net Worth in 2025
Sanders’ net worth is estimated to be around $4 million, much of which stems from his lucrative NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals during his college career. Before entering the NFL Draft, Sanders had already secured several high-profile endorsements with major brands such as Nike, Beats by Dre, Mercedes-Benz, and Gatorade, among others.
According to On3.com, Sanders’ NIL valuation was pegged at $6.5 million, ranking him second-highest in the NCAA at the start of the 2025 season, just behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning ($6.8 million) and ahead of Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg ($4.8 million). These deals not only boosted his financial portfolio but also cemented his status as one of the most marketable young athletes in college sports.
Cleveland Browns’ Insights for Week 12
Team:Â Entering Week 12, the Browns have a 14.0% chance to get the first overall draft pick according to PFSN Analytics.
QB: Shedeur Sanders recorded a 63.4 (D) QBi in his NFL debut. It ranked 335 out of 341 qualified quarterback games.
Offense:Â Cleveland posted an OFFi of 60.6 (D-) in Week 11, which was the 7th worst by any team this season.
Defense: Myles Garrett’s ten sacks in the last three games pushed his season total to 15. His career high in sacks is 16, achieved in both 2021 and 2022.
Fantasy:Â Since the start of the 2024 season, Browns quarterbacks not named Jameis Winston have combined for two QB1 performances. The only one of the 2025 season was Dillon Gabriel in Week 10 against the Jets.
