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Shedeur Sanders was predicted to go to No. 2 as early as he was before his inexplicable draft slide. The Cleveland Browns finally chose Sanders in the fifth round of last month's NFL Draft.
On Monday, the Browns said Sanders had signed his rookie contract. ESPN reported that Sanders' four-year rookie contract is valued at $4.6 million.
The latest NFL collective bargaining agreement has introduced a fixed new employee wage scale. This effectively eliminated negotiations. Sanders was his 144th overall pick, so he went into the slot to score $4.6 million on his first contract.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Chedure Sanders (12) throws on Friday, May 9, 2025 during the rookie mini-camp for the NFL football team in Bear, Ohio. (AP Photo/sue ogrocki)
The Browns also confirmed that Sanders will wear No. 12 during the 2025 season. Sanders wore No. 2 in Colorado, but Cleveland wide receiver DeAndre Carter had already insisted on the second jersey.
Browns' Chedure Sanders says he won't buy a college jersey number from his teammates and quotes a modest signature bonus
There was speculation that Sanders could make an offer to Carter to get his college football number back. However, Sanders suggested that his modest signature bonus would prevent him from pursuing his old numbers.
“My signature bonus isn't that high right now,” Sanders said.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Chedure Sanders (12) will throw during the NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Belia, Ohio on Friday, May 9, 2025. (image)
Spotrac estimated Sanders' signature bonus was just over $446,000.
The total value of Sanders' contract is less than the ratings of his reported names, images, and portraits (nils) he accumulated over his college football career. Per ON3, Sanders was valued at $6.5 million while playing for Colorado.
Colorado quarterback Shedur Sanders (2) appears to pass the ball in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado on Saturday, September 16, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by David Zalubowski/AP)
Once you reach a contract on a multi-year contract, Sanders could potentially provide some security when trying to compete for roster locations and work up the Browns depth chart.
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The 23-year-old features Desshaun Watson, Joe Fraco, Kenny Pickett and Dilongabriel in part of Cleveland's busy quarterback room.
Sanders finished the 2024 season with 4,134 yards in Colorado.
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