Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top-five pick in the NFL Draft, experienced a significant financial hit when he fell to the fifth round.
The drop meant that instead of securing millions, he would start his NFL journey with a base salary of approximately $951,000 – a far cry from the $6.5 million NIL valuation he left Colorado with, the second-highest in all of college sports.
Despite being ranked as the No. 2 quarterback prospect after last season’s evaluations, five quarterbacks were selected before Sanders. Among them was Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman finalist who was chosen by Cleveland in the third round and is projected to earn an annual salary of $1.2 million. There’s even talk Sanders will end up playing in the Canadian Football League.
Before being selected with the 144th pick, Sanders was considered college football royalty in Boulder. He was the second-highest NIL earner, behind Texas prodigy Arch Manning, and surpassed future stars like NBA No. 1 pick hopeful Cooper Flagg, Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck, and Ohio State superstar wide receiver and National Champion Jeremiah Smith.
Sanders made history as the first college football player to sign with Nike under NIL rules, joined an 11-player endorsement team for Beats by Dre last August, and used his influence through Colorado’s 5420 Alliance, which supported over 350 CU athletes across 11 sports. Now, he enters a packed Browns quarterback room, reducing his chances of even playing in the league.
Deshaun Watson is still recovering from injury but remains at the top of the depth chart. Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, three-team backup Kenny Pickett, and now Gabriel are all vying to outperform Sanders for the starting position.
ESPN’s official depth chart shows the steep challenge ahead, listing Watson, Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel among the rostered quarterbacks, with Sanders needing to prove himself just to secure a role.
Alongside Gabriel and Sanders, Cleveland’s draft picks included first-round selection Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, and Ohio State transfer Quinshon Judkins.
While Sanders won’t be given any special treatment in Cleveland, the NFL is already capitalizing on his star power. His selection by the Browns continues to be the highlighted tweet on the NFL’s X account, garnering over 9 million views.
In contrast, top pick Cam Ward received 1.2 million views on X when he was selected, and Sanders’ former teammate and second pick, Travis Hunter, amassed 2.1 million.
