In the lead-up to April’s NFL Draft, a lively debate swirled among analysts and fans over who would be chosen as the No. 1 overall pick. The Tennessee Titans were clearly in the hunt for a new quarterback, and opinions varied widely on who the top prospect was. ESPN’s Mel Kiper was among those who favored Shedeur Sanders as the draft’s premier quarterback, though he ultimately predicted the Titans would select Cam Ward from Miami—a prediction that proved accurate. Meanwhile, Sanders was projected by some to go as high as third to the New York Giants, though Kiper saw him landing ninth with the New Orleans Saints.

The Giants, however, opted for Abdul Carter with their third pick and later took former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Sanders, unexpectedly, found himself waiting until the draft’s third day before being picked up by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, at 144th overall. Although late-round selections carry little risk, the Browns’ decision to add Sanders as their fifth quarterback raised eyebrows.

Despite this, Sanders, son of the legendary Hall of Famer and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders, remained confident in his ability to compete for a starting position. His perseverance is now paying off. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has announced that Sanders will start against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, marking the rookie’s first career start.

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Sanders takes over from Dillon Gabriel, another rookie who has been the starting quarterback since Week 5. Gabriel is sidelined indefinitely following a concussion during the Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, as he navigates the NFL’s concussion protocol.

After Gabriel’s injury, Sanders stepped in to complete the game, initially showing promise with his first two passes but soon appearing overwhelmed by the Ravens’ relentless defense. He ended the game with a 4-for-16 passing record, 47 yards, an interception, and two sacks. Adding to the turmoil of the week, Sanders also faced a personal setback when his house was robbed during the game.

Since the Browns’ return to Cleveland in 1999, Sanders will become the 42nd different quarterback to start a game for the franchise, a testament to the team’s ongoing search for stability in the quarterback position.

Because he was a fifth-round draft pick, Sanders has a modest contract, especially for a quarterback. He signed a four-year rookie deal worth $4,647,380; the only guaranteed money in that contract is his signing bonus of $447,380, which he received before the season began. Sanders’s base salary in 2025 is $840,000—add that to his signing bonus, and he’ll earn $1,291,083 this year.

By comparison, Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, has a four-year deal worth about $48.7 million. Dart, the quarterback the Giants took instead of Sanders, has a four-year contract worth just under $17 million, including an $8.9 million signing bonus.

Although Sanders looked rough in his NFL debut, he hadn’t gotten a single rep with the first team. He’s had a full week to prepare now, so the Browns are hoping for an improvement. At the very least, maybe Sanders can string together a nice game or two to earn another contract and carve out a nice career as a backup. It’s worked for guys like Chase Daniel and Matt Flynn, and making millions while largely staying out of harm’s way on the sidelines isn’t a bad way to earn a living.