Shedeur Sanders gets near $5 million contract update as NFL draft slide continues

The 2025 NFL Draft has been filled with intriguing storylines, but none have been more strange than the fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Heading into Day 3, Sanders is still on the board, and five quarterbacks have been taken over him so far, including three on Day 2.

Falling in the draft has not only cost Sanders a chance to be a starting signal-caller in his rookie campaign, but it has also cost him a ton of money.

Day 3 draft picks don't receive very large contracts, and most of the deals also don't include much-guaranteed money. Sanders, who was a projected first-round pick before the draft, has lost out on millions of dollars due to his slide, and ESPN's Jeff Darlington pointed out that the former Colorado signal-caller made more money in one year of college through NIL than he will make in his entire rookie contract in the NFL.

"Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide is wild on its own, but even more remarkable because of the current landscape in college football, as well," Darlington wrote on X. "The first pick of the fourth round last year [Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders] signed an NFL contract worth on average about $1.2m per year. A full value of $4.85m over FOUR YEARS."

"In 2024, Sanders is estimated to have made more than $6m in college IN ONE YEAR through NIL. This slide is also resulting in a major pay cut," Darlington added.

We'll see where Sanders will land on Day 3, as there are still a few teams who could be looking to add quarterbacks to their rosters.

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The Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets could be potential landing spots for the 23-year-old Texas native.

MORE SHEDEUR SANDERS: Will Raiders end Shedeur Sanders' NFL draft slide? Where Las Vegas ranks among favorites