Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders' NFL Salary Revealed After Falling to 5th Round

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Apr 26, 2025 3:08 PM ET

In what many consider one of the biggest slides in the event's history, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders went from projected top pick to falling into Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and son of Deion Sanders was viewed as a first-round lock about a month ago, but ended up having to wait until the fifth round of the NFL draft before his name was called. The Cleveland Browns ended Sanders' draft slide, selecting him with the No. 144 pick after acquiring the pick from the Seattle Seahawks.

Not only did Sanders' fall in the draft stun fans and analysts alike, but it also cost him a large chunk of change.

As revealed by Spotrac, Sanders' draft slot has him slated to sign a four-year contract worth a little over $4.6 million, which means he will make a hair over $1.1 million per year. He will also receive a signing bonus of $446,553.

Had Sanders been taken in the first round like he was expected to, he would have made at least $14.6 million per year if he had gone No. 32 overall. If he went in the top-five like initially expected, he would have made anywhere from $40-48 million.

However, many have attributed his fall to an unconventional pre-draft process that saw him not participate at the East-West Shrine Bowl, NFL scouting combine, or Big 12 pro day.

In addition to skipping out on those events, CBS Sports' insider Johnathan Jones reported that Sanders interviewed quite poorly. Jones went as far as to say that Sanders "sandbagged" certain interviews.

"I was told that he more or less sandbagged in those interviews," Jones said. "I don't know if he didn't take them seriously, what it was, but he did not give it his all."

NFL insider Tom Pelissero also reported that he was told by an NFL staffer that Sanders had the "worst formal interview" that they had ever been a part of.

Sanders could have a long journey to a starting role with the Browns having Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel in the same room, but he finally got his shot.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: