The $44 million difference in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders’ NFL contracts
Cam Ward is expected to sign a lucrative deal with the Tennesee Titans, who took him first overall. Not so much for Shedeur Sanders after a 5th-round slide.
As expected, the Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward first overall in the NFL Draft on Thursday. The Miami quarterback was widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect and miles above the others in his class.
Less expected was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ slide all the way to the fifth round. Initially regarded as the No. 2 prospect behind Ward, Sanders started to slide in the mocks, but not hearing his name called until the third day was still shocking. The Cleveland Browns passed on Sanders several times, even taking Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel ahead of him. They finally selected Sanders 144th overall.
It’s a shame that the whole Shedeur Sanders situation took away from Cam Ward’s moment.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 27, 2025
(via: @clarencehilljr) pic.twitter.com/pNcUCfwUJu
In the end, there were five quarterbacks taken ahead of Sanders, and even now, he’ll have to compete for a spot on the Browns roster, which has five quarterbacks currently on it.
The Browns’ plan for Shedeur Sanders at quarterback
How much money will Shedeur Sanders earn with the Browns?
A first-round pick and a fifth-round pick are not on the same level - and that shows with the contracts Ward and Sanders are expected to be given. The Titans are expected to give Ward a four-year, $48.8 million deal with a $32.1 million signing bonus.
Sanders is expected to make significantly less than Ward. Reports suggest that Sanders is likely to sign a four-year contract with the Browns, between $4.59 and $4.65 million, plus a $446,553 signing bonus. He will also not be given the fifth-year option that Ward is eligible for, as that is reserved for first-round picks.
These were the five other quarterbacks selected ahead of Sanders, and their expected earnings in comparison with his.
- Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans, 1st round, No. 1) – 4 years, $48.8 million
- Jaxson Dart (New York Giants, 1st round, No. 25) – 4 years, $16.9 million
- Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints, 2nd round, No. 40) – 4 years, $10.8 million
- Jalen Milroe (Seattle Seahawks, 3rd round, No. 92) – 4 years, $6.3 million
- Dillon Gabriel (Cleveland Browns, 3rd round, No. 94) – 4 years, $6.2 million
- Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns, 5th round, No. 144) – 4 years, $4.65 million
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