Shedeur Sanders signs a contract with the Browns but faces significant financial losses due to his late draft selection.

Shedeur Sanders is officially an NFL player. The quarterback, who had to wait until the fifth round of the draft at the end of April before being selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick, has signed his rookie contract with the franchise. This was officially announced by the team.

The contract is for four years and worth $4.6 million. According to Spotrac, the signing bonus is $446,553.

Because Sanders, who saw himself as a first-round pick, was not selected until the third day, he will have to accept massive financial losses. By comparison, Dillon Gabriel, also a quarterback drafted by the Browns in 2025, has already secured a contract worth $6.2 million as a third-round pick.

Massive financial losses for Sanders

The difference is even more striking when compared to the contracts that first-round picks have signed or will sign with their franchises. Number 1 pick Cam Ward can look forward to a four-year, $48.7 million contract with the Tennessee Titans, a good $32 million of which is guaranteed.

Even the 32nd and final pick in the first round, offensive tackle Josh Simmons of the Kansas City Chiefs, has landed a four-year contract worth $14,675,356 million, which is ten million more than Sanders.