The NFL Draft can change lives in an instant — for better or worse. For quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers, the 2025 draft turned into a tough financial lesson. Both players were once projected to be early picks, but after slipping down the board, they’re now facing millions of dollars in lost earnings.
QB Draft Slides Lead to Financial Losses for Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, and More
Shedeur Sanders’ Costly Slide
Once considered a surefire first-round pick, Sanders saw his stock plummet all the way to the fifth round. He was eventually selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Financially, the drop is staggering. Had Sanders been selected in the top five, he could have signed a rookie deal worth close to $45 million. Instead, his new contract will guarantee him about $4 million, a difference of over $40 million in potential earnings.
Concerns about his pre-draft interviews and questions about his leadership qualities likely contributed to his slide. Despite impressive college numbers at Colorado, NFL teams seemed wary of off-field issues and public perception.
Quinn Ewers Misses Out on Millions
Quinn Ewers faced a similarly painful draft weekend. Originally hyped as a potential first-rounder, Ewers fell into the later rounds. According to CBS Sports, if Ewers had returned to college — perhaps via the transfer portal — he could have easily earned between $3-4 million in NIL endorsements for another year.
Instead, his rookie contract now guarantees significantly less. For players like Ewers, who were borderline early picks, the NIL landscape offers a serious financial alternative that didn’t exist just a few years ago.
Jalen Milroe Shows the Value of Staying in College
Another name that’s been discussed is Jalen Milroe, the former Alabama quarterback. According to AL.com, Milroe made around $2.6 million during his final year at Alabama through NIL deals, a sum that exceeds what many late-round NFL rookies will earn over several years.
His example shows that for some players, especially those not projected as clear first-rounders, sticking around college another year could be the smarter financial play.
NIL Changes the Game for Quarterbacks
The decisions made by Sanders, Ewers, and Milroe highlight how much college football’s NIL rules have changed the draft calculus. In the past, entering the NFL as soon as possible was almost always the right move financially. Today, it’s a much tougher call.
KEEP READING: Most Draft Picks by School, 2025 NFL Draft
For quarterbacks especially, where a single round’s worth of draft movement can mean tens of millions of dollars, understanding when to declare for the draft has never been more crucial. Future prospects will surely look at the 2025 class as a case study in how quickly fortunes can rise or fall.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
