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Shedeur Sanders may not have gotten the first-round pick he wanted in April 2025, but the Cleveland Browns quarterback is still in the mix.
Thanks to endorsement deals with the NFL Players’ Association, Sanders has made $17.7 million in licensing revenue for the team through the 2025 season, according to Front Office Sports.
That money comes from all jersey sales, trading cards and other things collected by fans, and it breaks the record.
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Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, on Aug. 8, 2025. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
Sanders surpassed legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who made $9.5 million in 2021-22, by a significant amount.
Sanders’ Browns contract is just over $1 million per season, including a four-year, $4.647 million rookie contract before taking the field in 2025. He fell awkwardly during the NFL Draft, as he not only didn’t go in the first round, but had to wait until Day 3 when the Browns finally called.
JALEN MILROE, DILLON GABRIEL BOTH AHEAD OF SHEDEUR SANDERS ON NFL’S UNCONTENDED LEADER
Cleveland also drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, also a Heisman Trophy finalist, ahead of Sanders in the third round.
But Sanders’ supporters were outnumbered and clearly showed up for the merchandise and then some.
Also, the report made sure to highlight some of the endorsement deals Sanders may have received as he entered professional football, bringing his rookie season total to around $20 million, if not over.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders walks off the field after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 4, 2026, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sanders entered the NFL with tons of hype and expectations from football fans and experts alike, seeing if he could handle the highest level in the sport.
However, he would have to wait for his time with the Browns, with veteran signal caller Joe Flacco starting for former head coach Kevin Stefanski’s team early in the 2025 campaign.
BROWNS GM ANDREW BERRY WILL NOT COMMIT TO SHEDEUR SANDERS AS 2026 STARTS ON ROOKIE PROGRESS
Sanders finally got his first start for the Browns on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12, helping them to a 24-10 victory. He went 11-of-20 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Stefanski announced that Sanders will be the team’s starter for the rest of the year, as Cleveland is out of the playoff hunt and they clearly want to see their rookie improve. He eventually threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while having a 3-4 record through seven starts.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders watches from the sideline late in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 7, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Images)
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Now, while the excitement continues for Sanders, he still has to fight for the job he first entered in 2026. Deshaun Watson is finally back healthy and has been splitting the Browns’ first team reps in volunteer assignments under new coach Todd Monken, who is coming from the Baltimore Ravens.
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