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The idea of Shedeur Sanders going undrafted seemed preposterous when the 2025 NFL Draft week began. The Colorado star quarterback’s luster as a projected top-five pick may have diminished, but he was still widely mocked to land somewhere by the end of Day 1.
When the first round came and went without his name being called, Sanders told the crowd at his Thursday draft party, “Tomorrow is the day.” But Friday also ended without Sanders’ name being called, dragging his slide into yet another day of speculation as Day 3 begins at noon Saturday.
But what happens if Day 3, consisting of rounds four to seven, also ends without Sanders being selected? An idea that never seemed plausible suddenly feels possible, and if so there are questions to be answered.
Here’s what would happen if Sanders never gets selected in the NFL Draft. And if even he does hear his name called Saturday, how much money has been lost from his original draft, and thus salary, projections?
Can Sanders return to college football?
No. Despite having another year of eligibility after playing one year at Jackson State and two at Colorado, Sanders forfeited the remainder of his college eligibility once he declared for the NFL Draft.
According to the NFL’s College Advisory Committee, “Participating in the Draft means that an underclassman loses his remaining eligibility. If he is not selected by an NFL team, he will not be able to play another college season and he will not be able to improve his draft standing for the following year’s draft.”
What happens if Sanders goes undrafted?
If a player who declares for the NFL Draft isn’t selected, they become an undrafted free agent (UDFA). UDFAs typically work out for any team interested in them and are free to negotiate and sign with any team who offers them a contract.
Undrafted free agents receive three-year contracts with no club options, with salaries typically starting at the league minimum. In 2025, the league minimum salary for a rookie is $840,000, and the 2026 veteran minimum (for players with at least one year of service) will increase to $1,005,000, per the collective bargaining agreement.
Famously successful UDFA quarterbacks include Warren Moon, Kurt Warner and Tony Romo.
What kind of salary drop is Sanders facing?
The salaries for drafted NFL rookies is established and fixed within the rookie pay scale, which was agreed upon in the CBA. For a first-round pick, that total salary ranges from $48.7 million for the No. 1 pick to $14.6 million for the No. 32 pick.
If Sanders was picked at No. 5, he would have made $40.8 million total over his rookie deal, including $7.4 million in his first year. At No. 21, where Sanders was mocked by some to be selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he would have made $17.9 million total, and at No. 25, where the New York Giants selected QB Jaxson Dart, Sanders would have made $16.9 million total over the course of his rookie deal.
Rookie salary totals for players in the fourth round — selections 103 to 138 — range from $5.2 million to $4.8 million. In the fifth round, that ranges from $4.6 million to $4.4 million, and the drop largely plateaus from there. As the final pick of the draft, “Mr. Irrelevant” — the nickname given to the last draft pick at No. 257 — will make $4.3 million total on his rookie deal and $865,369 in his first year, per estimated salary numbers from Spotrac.
While UDFAs receive three-year deals, drafted rookies receive four-year deals and first-round picks come with a fifth-year team option.
The rookie salary total numbers are considered estimates as teams and players can make minor contract adjustments via bonuses and incentives.
(Photo: Andrew Wevers / Getty Images)
