Shedeur Sanders set to make $4.65M with Browns: How much is Will Howard expected to earn with Mike Tomlin’s Steelers?

Shedeur Sanders was strongly linked with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2025 NFL Draft, as Mike Tomlin was believed to be a huge fan of the Colorado quarterback. However, the Steelers passed on him every time they could, which is why he ended up with the Cleveland Browns. Instead, Will Howard will be the one playing in the Steel City this year.

There wasn’t a significant difference in the timing of each quarterback’s selection, though. While the Browns took Sanders with the No. 144 pick in the fifth round, the Steelers drafted Howard at No. 185 in the sixth round.

This means that there won’t be a huge gap between their salaries either. According to Spotrac, Sanders’ position in the 2025 NFL Draft secures him a four-year contract worth $4.65 million in Cleveland. Now, let’s take a look at Howard’s deal in Pittsburgh.

A $200,000 difference between Sanders and Howard

The difference in their contract values isn’t that big, as Will Howard is reportedly getting a four-year, $4.45 million deal with the Steelers. This is based on the rookie pay scale established on the NFL‘s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Since Howard shortly after Sanders, the compensation for each quarterback will be pretty similar.

Shedeur Sanders #QB13 of Colorado looks on during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Another similarity between their contracts is that neither Sanders nor Howard are eligible for a fifth-year option on their respective rookie contracts, since that possibility only applies to prospects who were drafted in the first round.

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Sanders’ signing bonus with the Browns ($446,553) is also slightly higher than the one Howard gets with Tomlin’s Steelers ($247,268). In annual average value, the difference continues to be small. While Sanders’ deal is worth $1.16M a year, Howard’s contract is valued at $1.1M per season.

Sanders and Howard’s contracts compared to other rookie QBs

Needless to say, their contracts differ very much from other quarterbacks of this year’s class, especially from those who were selected earlier in the Draft. While Cam Ward leads the pack with a massive deal reportedly worth $48.8M, there’ll be many prospects making more than Sanders and Howard.

1. Cam Ward (Titans, No. 1) – 4 years, $48.8 million
2. Jaxson Dart (Giants, No. 25) – 4 years, $16.9 million
3. Tyler Shough (Saints, No. 40) – 4 years, $10.8 million
4. Jalen Milroe (Seahawks, No. 92) – 4 years, $6.3 million
5. Dillon Gabriel (Browns, No. 94) – 4 years, $6.2 million
6. Shedeur Sanders (Browns, No. 144) – 4 years, $4.65 million
7. Kyle McCord (Eagles, No. 181) – 4 years, $4.46 million
8. Will Howard (Steelers, No. 185) – 4 years, $4.45 million