$3.3 million QB reported to earn more than Shedeur Sanders with new NIL deal

One star college passer is earning a higher single-season salary than a professional starter’s entire multi-year rookie league contract.

After agreeing to a $5 million deal with a new program via the transfer portal, this Big 12 quarterback will earn more in one season than the entirety of Shedeur Sanders' rookie NFL contract. | Scott Springer/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The modern landscape of collegiate athletics has reached a financial turning point where staying in school often provides more immediate wealth than entering the professional ranks. A star quarterback recently illustrated this shift by choosing to delay his entry into the professional draft because a university offered a payday that makes the standard rookie salary look remarkably modest.

This decision highlights the massive financial muscle currently powering top-tier programs, which now compete directly with the highest levels of the professional world for talent.

The financial gap between campus life and the pros has flipped for select elite athletes who recently explored the opportunities within the transfer portal. While declaring for the professional draft typically guarantees a multi-year security net for mid-round selections one specific veteran passer found that remaining in the college environment for a final season offered far greater immediate compensation than he could expect to receive as a middle-round selection.

This player is scheduled to earn more in a single year on campus than a current professional starter will see over the entire duration of his four-year rookie agreement.

This comparison involves Shedeur Sanders, who joined the Cleveland Browns last spring as a fifth-round selection with a rookie contract worth $4.6 million. In contrast, the collegiate star in question opted for a massive single-season agreement that guarantees him $5 million to lead a new offensive unit in 2026.

Such a development underscores that top-level college talent can now command market prices the professional league cannot match for players selected outside the early rounds.

College quarterback's NIL deal vs. Shedeur Sanders NFL contract

Brendan Sorsby solidified his status as a premier transfer target when he bypassed the professional ranks to join Texas Tech for the 2026 season. The former Cincinnati standout agreed to a deal worth $5 million, which easily clears the $4.6 million Shedeur Sanders receives from his four-year rookie NFL pact, as first covered by Front Office Sports in a social media post.

Sorsby chose the Red Raiders after a high-profile recruitment that ultimately came down to a race against LSU. He arrives on campus following a productive 2025 campaign where he completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions.

Former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) agreed to terms with the Texas Tech Red Raiders to join the Big 12 program on a $5 million deal after entering the transfer portal. | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

This performance marked a significant step forward from his 2024 season and scouts projected him as a high second-day selection if he had entered the draft. His mobility adds another layer to an offense that struggled during a loss to Oregon in the most recent Orange Bowl after a successful 12-2 season.

Sorsby added 580 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground last year which makes him a dual-threat upgrade for a team with national championship aspirations. He previously spent time at Indiana before finding his rhythm at Cincinnati where he became one of the most efficient passers in the nation.

Texas Tech's new QB1 Brendan Sorsby will reportedly earn more in one season of NIL than the value of Shedeur Sanders's entire 4-year NFL rookie contract. pic.twitter.com/ZTpRbpJ3Sj

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 5, 2026

Texas Tech continues to demonstrate a willingness to invest heavily in talent, having previously spent more than $7 million on a defensive line featuring David Bailey and Lee Hunter ahead of the 2025 season.

This lucrative move ensures the university keeps pace with modern athletics while outperforming the On3 valuation of $3.3 million for the veteran leader. By remaining in school, Sorsby hopes to improve his draft status while enjoying a salary that few rookies in the professional league can currently match.