Shedeur Sanders Signs Rookie Contract With Cleveland Browns/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Quarterback Shedeur Sanders officially signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns. The former Colorado standout joins a crowded QB room after being drafted in the fifth round. Sanders aims to prove himself in Cleveland’s quarterback competition.
Shedeur Sanders Rookie Deal Quick Looks
- Sanders signs rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns.
- Selected 144th overall in Round 5 of 2025 NFL Draft.
- Cleveland traded up with Seattle to draft him.
- Set single-season passing records at Colorado in 2024.
- Passed for 4,134 yards and 41 total touchdowns.
- Named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
- Joins QB competition with Pickett, Flacco, and Gabriel.
- Browns signed four of seven draft picks to date.
- Sanders says he’s focused on proving himself, not critics.
- Participated in rookie minicamp earlier this month.
Deep Look: Browns Sign Shedeur Sanders After Draft-Day Slide to Fifth Round
CLEVELAND, May 19, 2025 — The Cleveland Browns have officially signed Shedeur Sanders, their fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, securing one of the most high-profile rookies of the class with a multiyear rookie contract.
Selected 144th overall, Sanders was arguably the most recognizable name in the draft after a standout season at Colorado, but slid into Day 3 before the Browns traded up with Seattle to bring him aboard. Now, he enters an intensely competitive quarterback room looking to earn his place in the NFL.
College Stardom at Colorado
Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, made headlines in 2024 as he set multiple single-season records for the Colorado Buffaloes, passing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns while leading the team to just its third bowl appearance since 2008.
He also tallied 41 total touchdowns and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, along with second-team AP All-America recognition. His leadership and poise made him a standout prospect, even as he dropped further in the draft than expected.
Crowded QB Competition in Cleveland
Sanders now enters a four-man competition for the Browns’ starting quarterback position. The team added several new faces to the mix this offseason:
- Kenny Pickett, former Steelers first-round pick, acquired in a trade with the Eagles.
- Joe Flacco, who revived his career by going 4-1 as a starter in 2023, leading Cleveland to the playoffs.
- Dillon Gabriel, the Browns’ third-round pick out of Oregon.
With uncertainty surrounding the position, Sanders may have an opportunity to climb the depth chart faster than expected.
Confident Mindset Amid Pressure
Speaking earlier this month at Cleveland’s rookie minicamp, Sanders addressed questions about expectations and doubters:
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong, it’s to prove myself right,” he said. “I fully have self-belief… They don’t really live in my mental space.”
It’s a sentiment reflective of the confidence and composure he showed throughout his college career, especially under the spotlight that came with playing for his father at Colorado.
Draft Class Update
Sanders is one of four 2025 Browns draft picks who have signed contracts so far. Cleveland’s front office has made it a priority to lock in its rookie class quickly this year after a strong draft showing that included key acquisitions on both sides of the ball.
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