Slipping down the NFL Draft board isn’t just a hit to a young player’s pride, it also takes a toll on their bank account. Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top-five pick, experienced this firsthand when he fell to the fifth round, which significantly reduced his potential earnings.
After leaving Colorado with a $6.5 million NIL valuation, the second-highest in all of college sports, Coach Prime’s son will now begin his NFL career with a base salary of roughly $951,000. While this is a substantial amount for the average American worker, it falls short of the millions he was expected to earn if his draft projections had remained steady.
Despite being ranked as the No. 2 quarterback prospect after last season’s evaluations, five quarterbacks were chosen before him. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman finalist who Sanders once outranked, was drafted by Cleveland in the third round. This selection secured Gabriel an estimated annual salary of $1.2 million.
Before being selected with the 144th pick, Sanders was considered college football royalty in Boulder. He was the No. 2 highest NIL earner, behind Texas prodigy Arch Manning, even surpassing future stars like NBA No. 1 pick 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. He also 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.
However, he now finds himself in a crowded Browns quarterback room, which could limit his chances of playing in the league. The controversial starter, Deshaun Watson, is still recovering from an injury but remains at the top of the depth chart. Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, three-team backup Kenny Pickett, and newcomer Gabriel are all vying to outperform Sanders for the starting position.
(Image: Getty)
ESPN’s official depth chart highlights the tough competition, listing Watson, Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel among the rostered quarterbacks. This leaves Sanders needing to prove his worth to secure a role.
Alongside Gabriel and Sanders, Cleveland’s draft included first-round pick 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 handed anything on a silver platter in Cleveland, the NFL is already capitalising on his star power. His selection to the Browns remains the pinned tweet on the NFL’s X account, a post that has garnered over 9 million impressions.
To put it into perspective, top pick Cam Ward received 1.2 million impressions on X when he was selected, and Sander’s former teammate and No. 2 pick, Travis Hunter, racked up 2.1 million.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
