After slipping into the fifth round of the NFL Draft, there’s a good chance that new Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will earn less this season than will his peers who opted to keep playing NCAA ball.

Sanders’ salary will average out to $1,161,845 for each of the next four years, according to salary cap tracker OverTheCap. That compensation is set based on the NFL’s collectively bargained rookie pay scale, making him the 72nd-highest paid QB for 2025. 

But in the uncapped and loosely controlled world of college football, veteran starters are reportedly earning much more. Carson Beck, for instance, is receiving between $3 and $4 million from the University of Miami’s NIL collective, according to multiple reports. Beck briefly declared for this year’s draft in December before opting to enter the transfer portal and jumping from Georgia to UM. Duke QB Darian Mensah also signed a deal believed to be in the $4 million-per-year range this winter after leaving Tulane.

At the beginning of the offseason, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that schools were paying $750,000 to $1.5 million for a proven signal-caller—and as part of his lawsuit against the NCAA, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia estimated another year of college eligibility would help him earn $1 million, just under Sanders’ starting salary. In total, On3 says at least 19 quarterbacks have an “NIL valuation” above Sanders’ $1.2 million mark, though it’s unlikely all of them have maximized their earning potential.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers meanwhile reportedly received NIL offers greater than $5 million before entering the 2025 NFL draft. Ewers ultimately went 231st in the seventh round to the Miami Dolphins. If he hangs on with the team, he’ll earn $4.3 million over four years.

Of course, Sanders still has the opportunity to build on his NFL take with additional marketing arrangements. However, his brand appeal as a projected backup remains to be seen—and his focus for now is likely on making the Cleveland team. Nearly 50% of fifth-rounders don’t end up on the initial regular season roster with the team that drafted them. None of Sanders’ salary is guaranteed, according to OverTheCap’s accounting.

“Thank you GOD,” Sanders posted on X after being picked.

After remaining in the NFL’s draft process following a Feb. 7 deadline, Sanders surrendered his remaining NCAA eligibility. Now, in a new world of professionalizing college sports, the former Colorado star could come to represent a very modern lesson in the benefits of staying in school. 

(This story has been updated with where Texas QB Quinn Ewers was taken in the draft.)

Texas football quarterback Quinn Ewers was finally able to exhale Saturday late in the 2025 NFL Draft, taken in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins (No. 231 overall).

Ewers, who transferred from Ohio State prior to the 2022 season, threw for nearly 9,200 yards and 68 touchdowns in his three years as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. He also led Steve Sarkisian’s program to its first two College Football Playoff appearances, both ending in the semifinals.

REQUIRED READING: Did Quinn Ewers get drafted? Where Texas QB landed in 2025 NFL Draft

USA TODAY’s Ayrton Ostly gave the Dolphins a live grade of an A for taking Ewers with their seventh-round pick. In Miami, Ewers will compete for the Dolphins’ backup quarterback job, behind Tua Tagovailoa, with former New York Jets first-round pick Zach Wilson.

Here’s what you need to know about Ewers’ contract:

How much money will Quinn Ewers make in NFL?

Ewers is expected to make between $4.31 million and $4.33 million, according to estimates from Spotrac and Over the Cap, respectively.

Looking at Ewers’ NFL salary from a big-picture standpoint, the Dolphins quarterback is set to take a significant pay cut compared to what he could have made in the transfer portal, should he have entered it after last season. Before Texas competed in the College Football Playoff semifinals, there was a report from On3 that said Ewers had an NIL offer of $6 million to enter the transfer portal.

Ahead of the Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State, Ewers did not confirm or deny the report.

REQUIRED READING: How much will NFL draft rookies be paid? Rookie wage scale, contract details by round

Quinn Ewers NFL contract details

Figures based on estimates courtesy of Spotrac and Over the Cap

• Length: Four years, no club option
• Total money: $4.31 million (Spotrac) | $4.33 million (Over The Cap)

Ewers will receive a fixed and unchangeable four-year rookie contract. Since Ewers was taken in the seventh round, he will not receive a fifth-year rookie team option, something he would have received if he were taken in Thursday’s first round.

If Ewers were to be taken somewhere in the second through sixth rounds, he still would not receive a fifth-year rookie option. Sanders will make between $4.31 million and $4.33 million as the 231st overall pick.

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CINCINNATI – Oklahoma State dropped the second game of its series against Cincinnati with an 11-4 loss Saturday at UC Baseball Stadium.

The Cowboys are now 18-21 overall and 6-11 in Big 12 play, while UC improved to 24-19 and 10-10 in the league.

Cincinnati outhit the Cowboys by a 17-4 margin to clinch the series win.

 

OSU took the game’s initial lead in its first at bat, going up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly by Colin Brueggemann.

But the Bearcats answered in the bottom of the first, plating four runs on five hits to take a 4-1 advantage.

An RBI double by Beau Sylvester in the second cut OSU’s deficit in half, but UC got the run back in the bottom of the frame to make the score 5-2.

Sylvester’s double would be OSU’s lone hit until the eighth inning. With the Cowboys trailing 6-2, a leadoff walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs. Following a pop out, Brueggemann slashed a two-RBI double to left field to cut the UC lead to 6-4.

But with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, Christian Mitchelle took the mound and retired the next two Cowboys to escape further damage.

Once again, UC would answer in the bottom of the inning as the Bearcats struck for five runs on three hits against three different Cowboy pitchers to extend their lead to 11-4.

Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (CDT) first pitch.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three home runs, including a grand slam by Seth Dardar, powered K-State to a 14-5 series-clinching victory over Houston at Tointon Family Stadium Saturday.
 
K-State (26-17, 12-8 Big 12) set the tone early, as the Wildcats scored seven runs between the second and third innings on their way to winning their fifth consecutive win over Houston (22-20, 6-13 Big 12).
 
“We’re starting to play good baseball, and that’s three games in a row,” commented head coach Pete Hughes. “It all starts with good starting pitching. Michael Quevedo was very good today, and didn’t beat himself, allowing us to build a lead.”
 
Before giving up a run in the fourth, Quevedo retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced as he improved his record to 5-1. The senior lefty from Katy, Texas tossed 6 1/3 innings in his 11^th start of the year, ending his outing with four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking one.
 
“We played a really good team offense, one through nine. We got big hits, and, more importantly, played great two-out baseball,” Hughes added.
 
Six different Wildcats recorded a hit led by two each from Dardar and Dee Kennedy. In addition to Dardar, Sam Flores and Shintaro Inoue also belted a no-doubter in the win.  
 
The Cats scored multiple runs in three of eight innings, including five in the third and fifth.
 
With the win, K-State recorded its 16^th victory at home, matching a program record 16-1 start set in 2006. The Wildcats have won six of eight series in 2025, including four during Big 12 action.
 
K-State has registered two or more homers in 22 games this season, going 20-2. A total of 13 players have contributed to the team’s 74 home runs in 2025. K-State’s 74 homers rank fourth all-time in school history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight game, K-State jumped on the board in the second inning with a home run, as Sam Flores belted his third homer of the year over the left-center wall.
 
Quevedo retired seven consecutive batters until Tyler Cox recorded the Cougars’ first hit with a single in the third but was left stranded with the Cats picking up two quick outs.
 
Inoue launched his seventh homer 409-feet to center field – his third homer in three games – igniting the Cats five-run third. Maximus Martin was issued a four-pitch walk in the next at-bat before Dardar singled and Keegan O’Connor walked to load the bases, forcing the Cougars to make their second pitching change of the inning.
 
With one out, a fielders choice doubled the lead before the Cats capitalized on a fielding error by the shortstop that plated three runs.
 
Leading 7-1, K-State sent eight to the plate and erupted for five runs in the fifth to put the game away. The Cats’ five-run inning was highlighted by Dardar’s first grand slam at K-State.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• K-State scored 14 runs on eight hits, committed no errors and left eight runners on base.
• Houston scored five runs on nine hits with four errors and leaving six runners on base.
• Quevedo (5-1) was awarded the win, surrendering four runs on eight hits in his 6 1/3 innings of work with five strikeouts and one walk.
• Dardar and Kennedy went 2-for-4 with Dardar leading the offense with four RBI with his grand slam.
• Dardar, Inoue and Flores each homered.
• Flores scored three runs.
• Solis (1-1) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings.
• Nine different players tallied a hit for UH.
• K-State went 5-for-18 (.278) with runners on and scored six runs with two outs.

 TEAM NOTES

• K-State leads the all-time series, 7-2, that includes five straight wins in Big 12 play.
• The Cats have won all three series against the Cougars – 2009, 2024, 2025.
• K-State has homered in 32 of 43 games, totaling 74 with 25 in the month of April.
• The 2025 team’s 74 home runs rank fifth all-time in school history.
• K-State tallied its eighth and ninth innings with five or more runs.
• With Dardar’s slam, K-State has registered four grand slams this season by three different players – Martin (2), Evasco, Dardar.

 UP NEXT
Sunday’s series finale between the Cats and Cougars is slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. K-State baseball single-game tickets at Tointon Family Stadium are available, and can be purchased by visiting KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ name, image and likeness collective has hired an attorney to pursue and enforce a buyout clause in former quarterback Madden Iamaleava’s agreement, CBS Sports has learned.

In an unprecedented move in the NIL era of college sports, the parent company overseeing the Arkansas Edge collective has hired noted sports attorney Tom Mars to enforce buyout provisions in NIL contracts at Arkansas, Blueprint Sports CEO Rob Sine confirmed Saturday to CBS Sports. The collective is following the orders of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, who directed the collective to pursue buyout money in contracts broken by players in an insistent statement released Tuesday, just two hours after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal.

The two former Arkansas players targeted in the initial legal efforts are Iamaleava and former receiver Dazmin James, sources told CBS Sports. A meeting between Iamaleava’s representatives and Blueprint Sports’ legal team is expected early this week.

Iamaleava signed a one-year contract with Arkansas worth roughly $500,000 in January, according to people familiar with the deal. The contract included a provision requiring Iamaleava to pay the collective 50% of the money remaining on the agreement should he leave the school. He was due $400,000 in remaining payments, which amounts to a buyout of $200,000, a source told CBS Sports.

James didn’t record a catch at Arkansas until a breakout performance in the Liberty Bowl, where he caught three passes for 137 yards and a touchdown — a 94-yard reception and school record — in the Hogs’ 39-26 victory against Texas Tech. James entered the portal four days later and transferred to Cal in January.

Mars, who is based in Arkansas, has been at the center of several notable NCAA legal affairs over the last decade. He recently represented Tennessee’s NIL collective in its fight against the NCAA, when it investigated potential NIL violations tied to Nico Iamaleava in early 2024.

It’s not uncommon for players to enroll in schools in January only to enter the transfer portal before ever playing in a game. However, for the first time, schools have taken an interest in enforcing new buyout clauses in NIL contracts. Now, legal battles between collectives and former players may become part of the ever-changing world of college athletics as it continues to shift toward a professional model.

Hundreds of players — and their former schools — have ignored buyout language in NIL contracts as all parties await revenue sharing tied to the House v. NCAA settlement — to take effect on July 1. The question of whether these NIL contracts are legal has sparked debate in legal circles, contributing to schools’ hesitancy to sue players.

On the heels of the saga involving Nico and Madden Iamaleava, multiple schools have become more inclined and are re-evaluating legal action against former players who do not honor their contracts, sources told CBS Sports.

The saga of the Brothers Iamaleava has muddied the canvas. Earlier this month, Nico became the first high-profile player to hold out of team activities amid a contract dispute. Hours later, Tennessee moved on from its starting quarterback who led the Vols to the College Football Playoff. 

One day after Nico signed with UCLA on Easter Sunday, Madden informed the Arkansas coaches that he was homesick and wanted to enter the transfer portal, a person familiar with the decision told CBS Sports. The Iamaleava family, including Nico, visited Madden in Fayetteville to watch the Razorbacks’ spring game, which was canceled due to severe weather, 48 hours before Madden alerted coaches he was leaving the program.

“The portal, and I know Nico was high-profile, but I don’t want to blame the players, I don’t, for leaving,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman told reporters Thursday. “I mean, you could say, ‘Well, he was here three months and blah, blah, blah,’ but the opportunity to leave is there twice a year. The (opportunity) to leave for more money is there twice a year. I’m not positive what we all would do in that situation.”

Madden’s recruiting story might not be as dramatic as his older brother’s NIL negotiations and subsequent departure from Tennessee, but it did spark national interest as he left Arkansas — intending to follow his sibling to UCLA — before ever playing for the Razorbacks. 

Madden initially committed to UCLA in May 2024 but flipped to Arkansas in a surprise announcement on National Signing Day in December. NIL contracts at Arkansas commonly include language requiring players to reimburse 50% of the remaining money on their deal if they leave for another school, according to documents reviewed by CBS Sports. Madden Iamaleava had roughly eight months remaining on his contract.

Arkansas snagged the industry’s attention Tuesday when Yurachek became the first athletics director to direct an NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in players’ contracts.

“I have spoken with the leadership team at Arkansas Edge and expressed my support in their pursuit to enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our student-athletes moving forward,” Yurachek said in the statement. “We appreciate Edge’s investment in our student-athletes and acknowledge the enforcement of these agreements is vital in our new world of college athletics. 

“We look forward to continued dialogue with all parties resolving these matters.”

One NIL contract dispute will not bankrupt a multi-million-dollar NIL collective, but multiple players departing without paying buyouts could erode the school’s negotiating power with future players. Arkansas leads the SEC with 34 players transferring out of the program since December.

Meanwhile, tampering continues to be a problem across college football. Players not in the portal are contacted daily to gauge their interest. 

The state of Arkansas’ NIL laws have been relatively aggressive in recent years as the state tries to help its flagship university evolve with the landscape. In a 2023 amendment, the Arkansas Publicity Rights Act gave the University of Arkansas the power to attack tampering and sue agents, coaches and other third parties who “give or promise compensation” for the use of a player’s NIL if that player has already signed an enrollment contract at a university in Arkansas.

On Friday, the state signed into law a bill exempting players’ NIL contracts from state taxes.