Shedeur Sanders' 2024 NIL earnings set to eclipse Aaron Rodgers and more NFL QBs' base salaries
Shedeur Sanders is still in college, and yet he is reportedly set to earn plenty of money as QB1 for the Colorado Buffaloes next season through his various NIL deals.
And "plenty of money" here means $4.7 million – more than the base salaries that the likes of Aaron Rodgers will earn just for playing in the league. NFL Rumors shared the numbers in a tweet on X/Twitter on Thursday:
Notably, before Thursday's season opener against FCS North Dakota State, Sanders signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike – the first individual college athlete to do so.
Whom does Shedeur Sanders play like? College Football Network gives its analysis
Once Shedeur Sanders graduates, speculation will be rife on where he lands in the NFL, and who his game could be compared to. College Football Network's Ian Cummings has gotten ahead in his analysis of the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, firstly comparing him to the Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith (CollegeFootballNetwork.com):
"Like Smith, Sanders is a capable athlete but relies much more on his passing ability to make an impact. He’s a smooth pocket maneuverer and a capable pre-snap operator who separates himself with his lively arm strength, reliable accuracy, and sharp situational precision," Cummings said.
"Smith needed time to grow into a Pro Bowler at the NFL level, and that may be the case for Sanders as well if poor offensive line play continues to erode his pocket instincts and poise. Nevertheless, Sanders has the arm and accuracy to be a high-volume distributor from the pocket," he added.
Another comparison made was to Jake Delhomme, the face of the Carolina Panthers during their 2000s run of contention:
"Delhomme was a functional athlete but little more than that. Sanders is a bit similar. Nevertheless, against the odds, Delhomme led the Ragin’ Cajuns to unexpected success with his toughness and gunslinger mentality. Sanders could help the Buffaloes maintain respectability in a similar light," Cummings said.
"Sanders likely has a stronger arm than the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Delhomme did, and he’s a bit better at avoiding turnovers through the air. But Delhomme’s brand of pocket mobility, arm-dominant mechanics, and toughness all steer well toward a Sanders comparison," he added.
The biggest candidates to draft him so far are the Las Vegas Raiders, who badly need a franchise quarterback, and the New York Giants, who want to replace Daniel Jones after five seasons of what has been mostly underwhelming performances.