Report: Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns agree to four-year, $4.6 million rookie deal

The Cleveland Browns have come to terms with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. According to a report from FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the two sides agreed on his rookie contract on Monday.

Sanders will be paid $4.6 million on a four-year deal, per Schultz. The competition to get on the field at the quarterback position will begin in earnest now.

It all comes after an unexpected NFL Draft slide from Shedeur Sanders, who fell all the way into the fifth round before coming off the board. Cleveland eventually took a shot on the prolific former Colorado star.

As a senior in 2024, Sanders threw for a career-best 4,134 yards on an impressive 74% completion percentage to go along with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Spending the last two seasons playing for the Buffaloes, he scored 72 total touchdowns.

Sanders expects the success he enjoyed in college to follow him into the NFL. He was confident in his prediction when speaking with Browns broadcaster Nathan Zegura during an interview released after rookie minicamp.

“I understand, really, I feel like the Browns fans, they just want something to hope for, and they’ve been wanting it so long,” Sanders told Zegura. “So finally, you know, I’m here to change that. I’m here to, you know, actually give what they want.”

The Cleveland Browns have won one playoff game since being reactivated in 1999, and have played in just four playoff games over that span. The lone victory came in 2021 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, would lose in the divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cleveland made the playoffs one time since (2024) but has not enjoyed sustained success at the quarterback position in the last two decades.

With Sanders coming in, he’s not guaranteed the starting job, either. He was drafted behind teammate Dillon Gabriel and also faces competition from the other three quarterbacks on the roster — Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett — all three of which have experience as starting QB in the NFL. It goes without saying that Sanders is not guaranteed the starting job this offseason, but can play himself into that role during training camp.

“That’s kind of like how my pops (Deion Sanders) is, you know, everything was earned,” Shedeur Sanders continued. “So, the most he was able to do for us is give us the opportunity to play the game, to have resources and stuff. From then on, it’s about what you do with it. That’s why I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“That’s all I needed. That’s why I thank coach (Kevin Stefanski) and everybody [who is] a part of the franchise and everything, but I know what I’m gonna do with it.”

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this report.