A blank sheet of paper has endless possibilities. Whether you want to doodle, write down those precious passwords, journal or map out the next five years, everyone treats that paper differently. For some, it's the chance to build the perfect paper football or airplane. For others, it's the roadmap to success. As graduations come and go this time of year, it's a reminder that many are turning to a new page. What kind of story will those students author beyond school? There will be hardship. There will be triumph. The only thing guaranteed is that success is far from linear. Many college athletes learned that during their playing days. Thousands of players enter the college football landscape, hoping that they can one day make the leap to the NFL. Many saw those dreams come to an end this spring. Others will fight to keep that dream alive this summer. For over 250 prospects, they heard their name called during the2025 NFL Draft. The first 32 figure to have the best chance for success and the contracts indicate that. These are the salaries the first-round rookies will be making at their first job out of college. Here is the average annual value (AAV), or salaries, for the first-round picks in the2025 NFL Draft, according toSpotrac: Cam Ward, QB,Tennessee Titans: $12,209,905 Travis Hunter, WR/CB,Jacksonville Jaguars: $11,642,769 Abdul Carter, EDGE,New York Giants: $11,313,795 Will Campbell, OT,New England Patriots: $10,897,401 Mason Graham, DT,Cleveland Browns: $10,201,718 Ashton Jeanty, RB,Las Vegas Raiders: $8,973,953 Armand Membou, OT,New York Jets: $7,978,276 Tetairoa McMillan, WR,Carolina Panthers: $6,982,598 Kelvin Banks Jr., OT,New Orleans Saints: $6,932,812 Colston Loveland, TE,Chicago Bears: $6,659,002 Mykel Williams, EDGE,San Francisco 49ers: $6,235,839 Tyler Booker, OG,Dallas Cowboys: $5,638,430 Kenneth Grant, DT,Miami Dolphins: $5,489,078 Tyler Warren, TE,Indianapolis Colts: $5,240,163 Jalon Walker, LB,Atlanta Falcons: $5,140,593 Walter Nolen, DT, Arizona Cardinals: $4,835,043 Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals: $4,735,659 Grey Zabel, OG, Seattle Seahawks: $4,617,865 Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $4,543,183 Jahdae Barron, CB, Denver Broncos: $4,512,050 Derrick Harmon, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers: $4,487,202 Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: $4,443,615 Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers: $4,393,835 Donovan Jackson, OG, Minnesota Vikings: $4,294,264 Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants: $4,238,746 James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Atlanta Falcons: $4,194,696 Malaki Starks, S,Baltimore Ravens: $4,139,362 Tyleik Williams, EDGE,Detroit Lions: $4,114,516 Josh Conerly Jr., OT,Washington Commanders: $3,920,277 Maxwell Hairston, CB,Buffalo Bills: $3,809,560 Jihaad Campbell, LB,Philadelphia Eagles: $3,721,118 Josh Simmons, OT,Kansas City Chiefs: $3,668,839 Sanders will make an average of $1,161,845 per year for the next four on his rookie deal. The former Colorado quarterbackinked a four-year deal worth over $4.6 millionafter being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick. As evidenced by the first-round salaries, Sanders' unprecedented draft slide turned what would've been his average salary into his total contract value for the next four seasons. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL rookie salaries: Contracts for first-round picks, Shedeur Sanders
