There was a time not long ago when Shedeur Sanders was in consideration to be a top-3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But an unprecedented free fall during the selection process forced him to shockingly slide all the way into the fifth round, before he was eventually picked by the Cleveland Browns 144th overall.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Free Fall Cost Him Big Money
The experience should not only be a humbling one for Sanders in a football sense, but by way of his bank account, as well.
Naturally, the top picks get the top dollars. This year, no.1 overall selection Cam Ward signed a four year, $48.7 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, which has an average annual value of over $12.1 million. The first NFL contracts for the other two picks in the top three have values north of $45 million, all with $29 million+ due in signing bonuses.
Projected 4-Year Contracts
#1 Cam Ward, $48.7M
#25 Jaxson Dart, $17M
#40 Tyler Shough, $10.8M
#92 Jalen Milroe, $6.2M
#94 Dillon Gabriel, $6.2M
#144 Shedeur Sanders, $4.6M— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 26, 2025
In that respect, Shedeur Sanders may have lost himself more than $40 million during his free fall. His first contract will be somewhere in the range of $4.6 million, less than 10% of what Ward’s deal is worth, and will pay him at an annual value of about $1.1 million.
How do Sanders’ payment numbers stack up to the other quarterbacks selected? Jaxson Dart, who was picked near the end of the first round, will earn $17 million on his first NFL contract. Tyler Shough, the 40th overall pick, will earn $10.8 over four years. The quarterback that the Browns picked ahead of Sanders will make more money as well, with Dillon Gabriel projected to sign for 4 years and $6.8 million.
Not that he would, but Shedeur Sanders would likely earn more if he were still in college. Some current NIL deals are valued around $8 million, which is nearly twice what Sanders will make during his first four years in the NFL.
