{"id":156522,"date":"2025-06-25T04:48:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T04:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/156522\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T04:48:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T04:48:21","slug":"shedeur-sanders-responds-to-travis-hunter-signing-46-6m-contract-as-rookie-qb-gets-huge-boost-to-browns-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/156522\/","title":{"rendered":"Shedeur Sanders responds to Travis Hunter signing $46.6m contract as rookie QB gets huge boost to Browns future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter&#8217;s 2025 NFL Draft experience couldn&#8217;t have been more polar opposite.<\/p>\n<p>Both Colorado Buffaloes were projected to be top first-round picks, and whilst that was true for Hunter, nobody could quite believe just how far down the draft Sanders would slide.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Joe Flacco given &#8216;big edge&#8217; in QB battle with Shedeur Sanders as rookie&#8217;s role predicted<\/p>\n<p>Entering the draft as a two-way player, having played both wide receiver and cornerback in college, Hunter wanted to be drafted by an <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/topic\/nfl\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NFL<\/a> team that would allow him to continue playing on both sides of the football. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/topic\/jacksonville-jaguars\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> were keen to allow the 2024 Heisman winner, who played 713 snaps on offense and 748 on defence for Colorado last season alone, to do just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The only problem was, they had the fifth overall pick, and the likelihood was that Hunter would be long gone by the time they were on the clock.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As such, Jacksonville\u2019s new general manager James Gladstone <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3148866\/nfl-draft-cleveland-browns-travis-hunter-jacksonville-jaguars\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">pulled off a seismic trade<\/a> with the <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/topic\/cleveland-browns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cleveland Browns<\/a> in order to move up to the number two spot, costing them the fifth overall pick, a second-round pick (36th overall), a fourth-round pick (126th overall), and their 2026 first-round pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In return, the Jaguars also received a fourth-round pick (104th overall) and a sixth-round pick (200th overall).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Whilst it was all smiles in Hunters camp, his college teammate suffered a <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3153762\/shedeur-sanders-cleveland-browns-nfl-draft\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tremendous slide<\/a> down the draft, still on the board as the start of the fifth round began.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The son of Hall of Fame defensive back <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/who\/deion-sanders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Deion Sanders<\/a>, who is <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3306596\/michael-irvin-deion-sanders-illness-health-update-dallas-cowboys\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">currently dealing with a mystery illness,<\/a> would eventually hear his name called when the Browns got back on the clock to select the 144th overall pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Although Sanders may have felt aggrieved &#8211; and perhaps embarrassed &#8211; by sliding so far down the draft board, the most significant impact that it had on him was financially.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sanders agreed to a four-year, $4.6 million deal with the Browns that included a $447k signing bonus.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, Hunter was paid the big bucks, having just signed a four-year rookie contract worth $46.6 million, ten times as much as his former teammate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"WR\/DB Travis Hunter has earned a huge pay day in Florida. \" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" data-credit=\"Getty\" data-img=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750826899_536_12-jacksonville-jaguars-works-nfl-1000013339.jpg\" data-caption=\"WR\/DB Travis Hunter has earned a huge pay day in Florida.\"   loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750826899_536_12-jacksonville-jaguars-works-nfl-1000013339.jpg\" role=\"img\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>WR\/DB Travis Hunter has earned a huge pay day in Florida.Credit: Getty<a href=\"#\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders is hoping to lead the Browns into the future.\" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" data-credit=\"Getty\" data-img=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/12-cleveland-browns-walks-off-1001974349.jpg\" data-caption=\"Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders is hoping to lead the Browns into the future.\"   loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/12-cleveland-browns-walks-off-1001974349.jpg\" role=\"img\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders is hoping to lead the Browns into the future.Credit: Getty<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, his signing bonus was reported to be in the region of $30.6 million making for a nice pay day for the 22-year-old.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Upon signing his lucrative deal, the Jaguars made two social media posts announcing it, one referring to Hunter as a defensive back, and the other calling him a wide receiver, clearly signposting their intent to play him on both sides of the ball.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In response to the former post, Sanders showed some respect to the dynamic hybrid player, reposting the Jaguars\u2019 tweet with just one emoji &#8211; the fingers crossed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sanders is currently in a four-way battle to become the Browns\u2019 starting quarterback, where he is currently fourth on the depth chart.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The absence of <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3108249\/deshaun-watson-cleveland-browns-jimmy-haslam-nfl-owner\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$230 million Deshaun Watson<\/a> has boosted Sanders\u2019 chances of claiming the role of the primary signal caller on a team looking to bounce back from a 3-14 record in the 2024 season.<\/p>\n<p>However, he has to out-perform third-round draft selection Dillon Gabriel, as well as veterans Kenny Pickett and <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/who\/joe-flacco\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joe Flacco<\/a>, the latter of whom is seen as <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3314172\/cleveland-browns-quarterback-battle-joe-flacco-starter-sheduer-sanders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">having the \u2018big edge\u2019 to be the starter<\/a> in week 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sanders and Hunter will go from teammates to opponents in the NFL.\" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" data-credit=\"Getty\" data-img=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/former-colorado-buffaloes-players-shedeur-1005191309.jpg\" data-caption=\"Sanders and Hunter will go from teammates to opponents in the NFL.\"   loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/former-colorado-buffaloes-players-shedeur-1005191309.jpg\" role=\"img\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Sanders and Hunter will go from teammates to opponents in the NFL.Credit: Getty<a href=\"#\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Browns have four quarterbacks battling for the starting spot in 2025\" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" data-credit=\"\" data-img=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GYI2219831400jpg-JS1002429616.jpg\" data-caption=\"The Browns have four quarterbacks battling for the starting spot in 2025\"   loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GYI2219831400jpg-JS1002429616.jpg\" role=\"img\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>The Browns have four quarterbacks battling for the starting spot in 2025<\/p>\n<p>In Cleveland&#8217;s quarterback room, only Flacco has ever taken to the field in a Browns uniform, where he briefly took over the reins at quarterback following injuries to Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In his five starts, he led Cleveland to a 4-1 record, which secured their first playoff berth since 2020, and just their third appearance in the postseason since the turn of the millennium.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But should things not pan out in the early parts of next season &#8211; whomever is at the helm at QB &#8211; due to having a tough schedule to begin their 2025 campaign, then Sanders could see time on the field.<\/p>\n<p>According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, the team will only pivot from the quarterback they feel gives them the best chance of winning if they find themselves <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleveland.com\/browns\/2025\/06\/what-are-the-chances-any-of-the-browns-4-qbs-start-week-1-in-2026-hey-mary-kay.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">heading towards another dismal campaign<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Joe Flacco given &#8216;big edge&#8217; in QB battle with Shedeur Sanders as rookie&#8217;s role predicted<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Browns won&#8217;t try to tank, but they have a rough early schedule, and will be hard-pressed to have a winning record at midpoint,&#8221; Cabot said. &#8220;In the event that they do, they&#8217;ll stick with the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If they&#8217;re clearly not in the hunt, they&#8217;ll want to give Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders a chance to play so that they can determine if one of them has a legitimate shot to start for them next season.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Whilst Sanders will be firmly battling it out with Flacco and co to try and earn the opportunity to step onto an NFL field, and feels as though he <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/3295612\/shedeur-sanders-cleveland-browns-nfl-quarterback-battle-joe-flacco\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">can make a strong case in pre-season<\/a>, Hunter, on the other hand, is looking to make an immediate statement.<\/p>\n<p>The 2024 Heisman winner is as confident as ever that his game will translate well into the league.<\/p>\n<p>Should the Jaguars let him play the game as only he knows how, Hunter will become <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/nfl\/2960229\/travis-hunter-nfl-draft-combine-deion-sanders-colorado-shedeur\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the first player in NFL history<\/a> to play both positions simultaneously, and cement himself as the <a href=\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/who\/shohei-ohtani\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a> of the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms &#8211; follow our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61571480857518&amp;locale=en_GB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NFL Facebook page<\/a>, subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@talkSPORTEndZone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel\u00a0<\/a>for all the offseason news, interviews and more<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter&#8217;s 2025 NFL Draft experience couldn&#8217;t have been more polar opposite. Both Colorado Buffaloes&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156523,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[16057,54,35434,564,59,11,7,125,35433,49,6,15,835,139,17,35435,35437,128,35436],"class_list":{"0":"post-156522","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-browns-news","9":"tag-cleveland-browns","10":"tag-cleveland-news","11":"tag-colorado","12":"tag-colorado-buffaloes","13":"tag-deion-sanders","14":"tag-football","15":"tag-jacksonville-jaguars","16":"tag-jaguars-news","17":"tag-ncaa","18":"tag-nfl","19":"tag-nfl-draft","20":"tag-nfl-news","21":"tag-shedeur","22":"tag-shedeur-sanders","23":"tag-shedeur-sanders-contract","24":"tag-shedeur-sanders-travis-hunter","25":"tag-travis-hunter","26":"tag-travis-hunter-contract"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114742199021644628","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}