Browns sign rookie Shedeur Sanders to a four-year contract

Shedeur Sanders Signs Rookie Contract with Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders, who many anticipated would be a top draft pick, experienced an unexpected slide and was ultimately selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of last month’s NFL Draft. On Monday, the Browns announced that he had signed his rookie contract. According to ESPN, this four-year deal is worth $4.6 million.

The recent NFL collective bargaining agreement set a fixed pay scale for new players, simplifying negotiations. As the 144th overall pick, Sanders entered the league at a predetermined salary slot allowing him to secure that $4.6 million on his first contract.

The Browns also revealed that Sanders will don jersey number 12 this upcoming season. While he wore number 2 during his time at Colorado, that number is being used by current teammate DeAndre Carter.

There had been some conjecture about whether Sanders would attempt to buy his former college number back from Carter. However, Sanders indicated that his signing bonus, which is around $446,000, might not make that feasible. “My signing bonus isn’t that high right now,” he remarked, likely considering other expenses.

Interestingly, the total value of Sanders’ contract is lower than the estimated $6.5 million valuation he gained during his college career, which reflects the popularity of his name, image, and likeness rights.

At just 23 years old, Sanders is joining a crowded quarterback lineup in Cleveland, which includes Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel. Coming off a substantial 2024 season in Colorado where he passed for 4,134 yards, he will certainly hope to carve out his space in the team’s hierarchy.