Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders is counting his lucky stars just to hear his name called on draft day. Meanwhile, YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has swooped in with a bold three-year pledge after Sanders was drafted by the Cleveland Browns—a move that, surprisingly, leaves the 23-year-old waving goodbye to a potential $40 million payday.

Early projections had Shedeur Sanders pegged as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback slipped all the way to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns scooped him up with the 144th pick overall. Now, Sanders will find himself fighting for a spot in a crowded quarterback room alongside Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, and third-rounder Dillon Gabriel.

As the sixth pick of the fifth round, Sanders is missing out on some serious cash. According to Sportico, his rookie deal is expected to be worth around $4.6 million, including a $446,553 signing bonus. In comparison, No. 1 pick Cam Ward is projected to cash in with a $48.8 million rookie deal, featuring a massive $32.2 million signing bonus. Meanwhile, No. 2 pick Travis Hunter is set to score a $46.6 million contract, with a $30.6 million bonus to boot.

The financial drop-off is brutal, but at least Sanders still gets a shot in the league—and some unexpected backup. Right after the pick, Jake Paul’s sports betting app Betr shared a video on Instagram celebrating the move. Paul, a Cleveland native and a longtime Browns fan, shouted in the clip, “Shedeur Sanders to the Browns—let’s go, Cleveland! My future teammate when I play slot receiver in three years.”

It’s worth mentioning that Paul has previously claimed multiple times that he plans to join the NFL once his boxing days are over. But the most important part is that he has signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Jake Paul signs contract with the Cleveland Browns

According to a December 2022 report from The Independent, Jake Paul has officially signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns, but it’s not for a spot on the football field. The 28-year-old joined the NFL franchise’s social-media team in a playful announcement. In a video shared on his social media, Paul stood next to Browns’ executive vice president JW Johnson, who held up a “J Paul, 00” jersey.

Paul expressed his excitement, saying, “This is a dream come true. I won’t let you down.” Johnson replied, “We’re fired up. Excited to have you be a part of the team.” The lighthearted video showed Paul signing a contract for the role of “junior associate content assistant,” humorously pretending to believe he was joining the team as a player.

That being said, Shedeur Sanders might have missed out on millions, but at least he is still part of the board. As for Jake Paul, it’s unlikely he would ever play in the NFL. But do you think it can ever happen?