Whether Shedeur Sanders is on the field or not, he remains one of the most talked-about rookies in the NFL. His first season, however, hasn’t started the way he envisioned. Once projected to be a potential No. 1 overall pick, Sanders unexpectedly slipped to No. 144 and began his career as the Cleveland Browns’ third-string quarterback, a humbling start for the former Colorado star.
Still, things are beginning to trend in the right direction. With veteran Joe Flacco getting traded to the Cincinnati Bengals and Dillon Gabriel becoming the starter, there was a clear pathway for Sanders. He finally got his opportunity in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Shedeur Sanders’ Contract and Salary
Every year, the NFL establishes guidelines for the rookie contracts that will be offered to the upcoming class. Understandably, the higher you are taken off the board, the better the offer you get. As a result, Sanders had to face a grim reality.
Originally seen as a potential top-three selection, Sanders could have had a four-year contract worth over $45 million. However, his drop on the board also coincided with a steep decline in his income.
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.
At the start of the draft process, there was genuine speculation about Sanders as the QB1 of the draft. However, over time, Cam Ward took over that spot, but the son of Deion Sanders was still a virtual guarantee to land in the first three picks.
Then, the weeks leading up to April 24 saw his stock take a hit, opening up the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 and the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 as possible destinations as well. But none of those teams took a swing to add Sanders to their lineup.
Instead, he continued to free fall down, with five quarterbacks taken before him, including names like Tyler Shough and fellow Cleveland rookie Dillon Gabriel at Nos. 40 and 94, respectively, who were viewed as far worse prospects than the Colorado star. Instead, Sanders is now sitting behind Gabriel on Cleveland’s depth chart after being drafted exactly 50 picks later.
Sanders’ Net Worth
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 11
Team:Â Cleveland has scored 17 points or fewer in seven of nine games.
QB:Â Dillon Gabriel has graded in QBi at a C- or lower in his five starts.
Offense: The Browns’ 54.6 OFFi score is the second-worst in the NFL since 2000, behind only the 2023 Jets.
Defense: The Browns’ DEFi score against the Jets in Week 10 was 93.2, the best for the week and second best in the league this season. Cleveland has two of the best four-game scores in 2025.
Fantasy: Jerry Jeudy had 19.8 fantasy points last week. That number is higher than his previous four games combined. The Ravens allow the fourth most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
