Shedeur Sanders Has 4.6 Million Reasons To Stay at Colorado

Under most circumstances, big-time NCAA prospects want to turn pro as soon as possible. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, however, is running another play. Despite his famous father (and coach)—the one and only Deion Sanders—and an impressive college résumé, it seems like he'll be playing college football for another season.

At least that's what the elder Sanders insists.

"Why would we, when we're having a great time here?" Deion explained when asked about Shedeur looking toward the NFL in 2024, according to on3.com's Steve Samra. "When we appreciate and love where we are, it's hard to look at somewhere else."

That statement sounds jarring and, frankly, a bit unbelievable. We've come to understand that college sports are largely a stepping stone to the professional ranks. Why would a highly regarded prospect want to stay longer than he has to?

Well, there are more than 4 million reasons why. And, as you might expect, many of those reasons are green and feature the faces of famous men from American history.

Sanders Could Go Pro, but He's Apparently Staying Put

While Colorado has underwhelmed this season, Shedeur Sanders' NCAA résumé is still holding strong. The quarterback posted big numbers during his first two campaigns at Jackson State (3,231 yards and 30 passing touchdowns in 2021 and 3,732 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in 2022), but cynics could say that he was facing weaker competition.

The year 2023, however, has punctured that narrative. While the Buffaloes have slumped to 4-5, the junior has still piled up 2,882 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns in nine appearances. His completion percentage (70.1 percent) and passer rating (152.0) aren't notably different than last year's high-water marks.

Add a famous father into the mix—there's something to be said for understanding what it takes to succeed at a high level—and NFL interest in Sanders is understandable. He's been a fixture in early mock drafts, and some have him pushing into the top 10.

But, as mentioned above, that doesn't seem to be on the card right now. Deion Sanders has been insistent that his sons aren't going pro after this season.

In addition to his November 7 press conference quotes, Neon Deion also appeared on The Dan Patrick Show and said that both Shedeur and Shilo, who plays safety for the Buffaloes, will enter the 2025 NFL draft. "They're not trying to leave daddy this year by the way," the Colorado coach added.

And that's not the first we've heard on the subject, either. Earlier this year, Deion told both his sons that they weren't going to be leaving Boulder.

Shedeur's NIL Valuation Certainly Helps

Traditionally, one of the biggest factors in an athlete leaving college was money. Being selected at the top end of a draft provides millions of dollars; getting hurt in college, however, would undercut those initial earnings.

These days, though, things are a bit different.

NCAA athletes are allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL), meaning that they can earn money before turning pro. And for someone like Shedeur Sanders, we're talking about a hefty chunk of change.

According to on3's NIL 100, the quarterback valuation clocks in at an estimated $4.6 million. That's already a sizable sum, and it's reasonable to believe that Sanders will be able to make even more money if he returns for a senior year. This season has proved that Colorado, regardless of results, can steal a share of the spotlight; if Shedeur is chasing the Heisman Trophy and trying to establish himself as a top-five NFL pick, the hype will only increase.

But wait, you might be saying, isn't $4.6 million nothing compared to an NFL salary? That might be true, but it's also worth considering the range in rookie wages.

According to Spotrac's data, the top pick of the 2024 draft will ink a contract worth about $38 million. But Sanders, even if he turned pro, wouldn't be taken that high.

Even if the quarterback fell to the 10th spot on draft night, his rookie deal would be worth a shade over $21 million. The 20th overall pick gets around $14.5 million, while the last pick of the first round receives just under $12 million.

And remember, NFL rookies do receive sizable signing bonuses, but these sums are spread across the length of the contract.

Are those numbers more than Sanders would make at Colorado? Of course, but the gap between $4.7 million and a mid-first-round rookie deal isn't as dramatic as it once was.

Combine all of the factors—earning money while in college, chasing the Heisman, improving your draft stock and getting the rare ability to work alongside your father at a high level—and the logic between Shedeur (and Deion) Sanders' thought process becomes a bit clearer.