While he had to wait until the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft to hear his name called, the 144th pick didn’t have to wait long before inking his deal to play in the league.
The Cleveland Browns announced on Monday that they have signed Sanders to his rookie deal. The contract is a four-year deal worth $4.6 million. For reference, fellow 2025 draft pick and current teammate Dillon Gabriel will eventually receive a slotted four-year deal worth $6.2 million for being drafted two rounds earlier.
It hasn’t been an easy road this offseason, but the ink is dried and now the work begins. Here’s what to know about Sanders’ first NFL contract.
Shedeur Sanders contract details
Sanders signed a four-year deal worth $4.6 million.
The quarterback will carry an average annual value (AAV) of about $1.16 million and received a signing bonus of $446,553, according to Spotrac.
It represents a steep drop from the contract that is slotted in the first round, which would’ve been a four-year deal worth over $40 million in total value if drafted inside the top five.
Early in the process, Sanders was considered in the running for the No. 2 pick, which later became his college teammate, Travis Hunter. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ two-way player received a contract worth $46.5 million in total value.
Sanders carried an NIL evaluation of $6.5 million, according to On3 Sports, but elected to pass on his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
The move hasn’t worked out from a monetary standpoint, but he did land on a team that presents an opportunity to start. It’s a crowded room in Cleveland, but anyone’s guess who eventually ends up with the job.
So while it’s a rocky start for Sanders in the pros, things change quickly – especially if he outplays that rookie deal.