Browns' Shedeur Sanders Contract Rumor Shot Down by NFL Insider

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has drawn praise for a rumored “Prime Equity” clause in his contract. The problem is that it doesn’t exist.

The rumored “groundbreaking” clause was said to give Sanders a direct percentage of any revenue the Browns generate through merchandise, sponsorships, or promotions linked to his name and likeness. It sounds ideal, especially for Sanders, who is a high-profile name who slid to the fifth round. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns worth approximately $4.6 million — which is slotted for his draft spot — including a signing bonus of about $447,000.

The alleged clause has generated discussion online. However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport put an end to the conversation on Saturday.

“This is absolutely fake,” Rapoport wrote on X, responding to a video talking about the clause. “There is no such thing as a ‘Prime Equity Clause.’ How in the world does anyone think there is?”

That being said, there’s no doubt Sanders is still making some solid money off the field. He has endorsement deals with big companies like Nike, Gatorade and Beats by Dre. But those have nothing to do with his contract with the Browns.

Shedeur Sanders is No. 3 QB for Browns

Sanders will open the season as the No. 3 quarterback on the Browns’ depth chart. He’ll sit behind 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who will be the primary backup.

Sanders had his moments in training camp and the preseason but ended things on a sour note. The former Colorado star completed just three passes for 14 yards and was sacked five times in the Browns’ final preseason game against the Rams.

“Obviously, I feel like I can improve in a lot of areas, like the same thing I said last time. I’m just excited for the opportunity to get out there and play,” Sanders said after the game. “Every day was a new day, every day you learn different things and life lessons that you learn in every situation. I’m coming out of training camp happy that I got the opportunity.”

Shedeur Sanders Could Get Shot With Browns

Flacco will open the season as the starter but both Sanders and Gabriel could get a shot at some point this season. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed the importance of seeing the rookies in action as they develop a plan for their future. Cleveland holds two first-round picks in next year’s draft, capital they could use to draft their next franchise quarterback.

“Absolutely, Kevin (Stefanski) is aware of that,” Haslam said. “He knows how important quarterback is, and he and (general manager Andrew) Berry talk about those kinds of things all the time. It’s a daily, ongoing conversation.”

The other factor for the Browns is that Deshaun Watson is lurking, eyeing a potential return this season. Cleveland’s $230 million quarterback is starting the season on the reserve/PUP list, which will knock him out for at least the first four games of the season.

When Watson is healthy, the Browns will have a decision about adding him to the active roster, with Gabriel, Sanders and Flacco already taking up three spots.

Charlie Lindgren and Declan Chisholm Lead Capitals' Early Skates as Training Camp Approaches

The Capitals continue to welcome players back to DC with less than two weeks to go before the start of training camp. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren and offseason acquisition Declan Chisholm were both on the ice Saturday morning, joining a group of teammates for an informal skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Other participants at the skate included Martin Fehervary, Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ludwig Persson, Eriks Mateiko, Mitch Gibson, and Ryan Chesley. Capitals skills coach Kenny McCudden led the on-ice skills session.

Alex Ovechkin is expected to join his teammates soon as a report from Match TV said he planned to fly back to DC on Friday.

After signing a three-year extension in March, Lindgren is set to kick off his new deal this fall alongside goaltending partner Logan Thompson. The pair spent much of the 2024-25 season alternating starts before Thompson emerged as the team’s primary starter, playing in all 10 of Washington’s playoff games this spring.

Lindgren posted a record of 20-14-3 in 2024-25, earning a .896 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average. Though he admitted some frustration with his statistics during the season — especially after a breakout year in 2023-24, he told reporters at the team’s breakdown day in May that he was ultimately happy with his performance.

“I think took another step forward this year,” he said then. “Three years in Washington, it’s been an absolute treat. Couldn’t be more thrilled that I’ll be back here in September to continue on this journey with a lot of the same guys that were on the team this year.”

The Capitals traded for Chisholm at the 2025 NHL Draft amid a largely quiet offseason, acquiring the 25-year-old defenseman and a sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild for Hershey Bears defenseman Chase Priskie and a fourth-round pick. Chisholm played 66 games for Minnesota last season, recording 12 points (2g, 10a), and saw his team earn 51.1 percent of shot attempts and 53.9 percent of expected goals while on the ice at five-on-five.

With a large salary cap increase raising the price of unrestricted free agents, general manager Chris Patrick saw the trade as an opportunity to add depth without breaking the bank.

“(He’s) a guy who we can have a little control over the contract here, because he’s an RFA,” Patrick said in June. “We wanted to address our defensive depth this offseason, and if you go into the free agent market, you don’t have control over the costs. We thought this was a good chance to try to do that. We like where he’s trending as a player. Again, another guy that’s the right age, and I think he’s got a real good opportunity here to continue to build on what he was doing in Minnesota.”

Washington’s official preseason activities will kick off later this week with the start of Rookie Camp on Friday at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, Md. Those participants will join the rest of the team back at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for Training Camp on September 18.

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