Shedeur Sanders Secures $9.24 Million from NFLPA Royalty Payment During Colorado Tenure

Former quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, Shedeur Sanders, has recently benefited from a substantial $17.7 million royalty payout from the NFL Players Association, tied to his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. As reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, a significant portion of this payment was negotiated while Sanders was still playing for Colorado, prior to his unexpected drop from a projected first-round pick to a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The bulk of Sanders' earnings stem from trading card name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Florio notes that most player royalties from the NFLPA arise from group licensing arrangements, which reward athletes for merchandise sales, including jerseys, trading cards, and video games. The $9.24 million he received may have included an individual guarantee related to his trading card deals, negotiated before his draft stock fell.

Looking ahead, Florio suggests that Sanders could see another significant payout next year after he recently changed his jersey number from 12 to 2, the number he wore during his record-setting time at Colorado. "Any jerseys that fueled his royalty payments for his first NFL season will need to be replaced," he explains.

With this single payment, Sanders is on the verge of surpassing Tom Brady's previous record for the highest single-season payout at $9.5 million. Despite facing challenges in securing the starting quarterback position over Deshaun Watson at the Browns, Sanders' market value provides him with opportunities that many fifth-round picks do not receive.

His remarkable achievements at Colorado have contributed to his ongoing relevance and potential in the NFL, even as he navigates a competitive landscape in Cleveland.