Bucs Expected To Sign The Other Sanders’ Son, Gators Monster
April 26th, 2025
UDFA safety Shilo Sanders.
UPDATED: We all heard all about quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his quest to be drafted. That ended when the Browns grabbed him today in Round 5.
But most everyone forgot about his brother.
Shilo Sanders, a safety at the University of Colorado, is expected to sign with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent, and both Shilo and his Hall of Fame dad Deion celebrated tonight. What a paycut!
The Bucs also are expected to sign as a UDFA Armwood High alumnus and Florida Gators defensive tackle Desmond Watson. This Watson is 6-5, 464 pounds. No, that is not a typo. He’s nearly a quarter-ton of human.
The Bucs got a look at Watson up close this month at their in-house combine/workout for top local players.
Deion Sanders joins Shilo Sanders on his Twitch stream to announce he’s signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a undrafted Free Agent! 😭❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/AQuQCcZ3Xh
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) April 26, 2025
April 26th, 2025 at 7:48 pm
We won the draft
April 26th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Dang, Tez light drafted player ever, and now Watson, heaviest player ever. Light needs to make up his mind.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Watson. That’s an eclipse.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Now drop off Watson at Suh’s house.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Nice. Hope Shilo beats out Merriweather
April 26th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
If he’s not Jaba the Hutt, maybe he can be a beast for a few plays in preseason. I don’t believe the guy can play. Hope I’m wrong.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
Likely wont make this team but this is by far the more likable of the Sanders brothers. He’ll fit right in.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Said this during the draft:
“At this point, I’m all in on the 400-pound DT out of Florida, Desmond Watson, and Thor Griffith—both of whom appear to be going undrafted. Get Watson in the building, put him on the right diet and workout plan, with Thor as his sidekick, and they could be absolute forces. You just can’t teach size. Watson is 6’6”, 464 pounds, benched 225 for 36 reps, ran a 5.93, and even took a snap at running back. Griffith is 6’2”, 320 pounds, with 132 tackles, 33.5 TFLs, and 13.5 sacks over four seasons at Harvard.”
Make it happen, Licht!
Also, Shilo Sanders as a UDFA honestly seems like a good pickup—even if just for the increased media coverage that comes with having one of Deion’s sons.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
If they can get Watson to slim down some and put on more muscle mass, he can spell Vita a short spell and be disruptive.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
We are winning the superbowl
April 26th, 2025 at 8:02 pm
I can’t to see Watson and VV together against a tush push!
Maybe a jumbo Dino backfield with Watson at FB and VV at RB!!!!!!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
That’s what I’m talking about, Desmond lining up next to Vita. Two immovable objects that no one is running against in the middle.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Camp Meat
April 26th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Welcome to the squad, son. Time to put in that work💪🏽
April 26th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Thanos had to snap twice for Watson. Holy smokes.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Watson was a HHHHHUUUUUGGGGE signing as an UDFA!
Kidding aside I bet you if we get him on a proper diet and workout plan he could probably slim down to 400 lb fairly quickly. If he somehow is able to then make the roster even if he only plays on Downs to give vVea a breather we would still have a guy cloghing the middle
April 26th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
If you watched Colorado football you saw that Shilo can’t tackle, won’t be around long.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Watson and Vea on a tush push lol
April 26th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
We got Watson??
April 26th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Would he count as 2 players on the roster?
April 26th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Until I get eyes-on-target confirmation, this is all ghost intel.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:10 pm
Yes Watson bench pressed 225 36 times but as a Gators fan I’ve watched him get pushed over at ease by lighter defenders. My hope is the. East comes out of him on the nfl level.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Our Team is so Loaded
April 26th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Signed Bullock LB Nebraska Sheppard WR Colorado. Connor Bazelak QB Bowling Green. per USA Today.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
bro, watson?!
i saw a lil vid on this enormous kid a few weeks back and wondered where he’d end up….
kinda glad it’s with us
(not a bad udfa, shilo too!)
April 26th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Confirmed:
QB Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green
WR Will Sheppard, Colorado*
TE Anthony Landphere, Memphis
C Jake Majors, Texas
DI Desmond Watson, Florida*
LB John Bullock, Nebraska
S Shilo Sanders, Colorado*
April 26th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Really liking these UDFA pickups so far.
No holes left. Zero
April 26th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Is there a list of the best undrafted players available? Can you start a thread for UDFA signings, Joe?
Also how about inviting Draft Guru Sean Sullivan to do a Bucs draft pick wrap up on a future Ira Kaufman podcast? Sean watches an insane amount of college football film and could provide some interesting anecdotes and background information about each of the Bucs picks to help us quickly get to know them.
Thanks Joes for all you do and for your excellent pre and post draft columns and coverage.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Philly on notice.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Also OL Help with Ben Chukwuma, 6’6″ 320. At least to feed the maw of Camp Meat.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
We got will sheppard too????
April 26th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
Josh Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Why is that a good thing? Extra media for a player who has no chance is a distraction and a waste of time.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Makes sense Dmatt.
I’m not gonna lie—I knew nothing about him, and Desmond Watson wasn’t even on my radar until I saw him on Good Morning Football one day. At 6’6″ and 464 pounds, you just can’t teach that kind of size.
If he learns to play with better leverage, sheds about 60 pounds, and replaces it with muscle, he could literally become one of the scariest players ever at defensive tackle—just because of how absolutely massive he is.
Now, is this all projection and maybes? Absolutely. But that’s exactly why he’s an undrafted free agent.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Will I am
Yup
April 26th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
Knew F A was one of thoze.
Heh not like us.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:22 pm
Filthy Animal — The Bucs get no love, and Lavonte David is likely entering the final year of his career, making one last push for a Hall of Fame jacket. In my opinion, the more media coverage the team gets, the better. Hopefully, it leads to more people talking about the Bucs and their long-time talent—David, for example.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Just added
T Ben Chukwuma, Georgia State
April 26th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Ivey is out there too—just saying. There are so many guys I’d try to sign this year.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:30 pm
Personally, I think Shilo was the more talented at his position.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Go sign Jared Ivey.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
Media doesn’t follow this Sanders around. He’s the runt of the brothers maybe he will actually work out lol
April 26th, 2025 at 8:40 pm
i mean, what better coach than bowles for this sanders’ progeny
April 26th, 2025 at 8:48 pm
76doug— Don’t give up on Shilo yet! There are always nice surprises with udfa signings. I just read an an article that said that Shilo led the Bufs with 72 tackles in 2023. That doesn’t match with your statement that he can’t tackle.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Put Watson on a drastic weight loss plan and get him down to 380. Maybe there’s a player buried underneath all the blubber.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Shilo Sanders is only a prospect because of his name. He has no chance.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
I am glad Tampa signed him, he is a local boy , (Armwood High) , he worked so hard with the Gators to improve and he did ! He’s strong , tough and healthy , never missed a game, set the record for bench press reps at Florida’s pro day , and he can be very useful for specific defensive situations, he is a run stopper up the middle and is known as the tush push terminator, he has also played on offense , running the ball or blocking on the goal line , he gets that 460 pound body going forward nobody wants to get in the way!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Where’s Jeff? The Saints fan who gives the Bucs an F- grade every year, and thinks all of the guys the Bucs drafted will not only be cut, but none will ever make an NFL team?
April 26th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
My question with Watson is if he can only play a handful of plays due you dress him with a gameday 46 limit? I see him inactive on Sundays if makes the final roster.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Filthy- sanders ranked 4 th of all safeties in the draft with 15 turnovers created. That’s something that Bowles that was sure to catch his attention. I wouldn’t be too quick to rule this kid out. I trust Licht and his eye for talent. We will see when the pads come on. As of this minute, he is a Buc. I support him until he proves, on the field, that he doesn’t belong here.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
I LOVE the idea of Desmond Watson as a Buc! He’ll be among my favorites and one worth rooting for!
April 26th, 2025 at 9:25 pm
Desmond Watson is a very very big man. I mean Vita plus 110lbs… wow. His highlights are hilarious – when he’s able to get ahold of someone, they go straight down, like watching a video of two chicks fighting and one is 110lbs and the other is 280lb, just without a wig going flying.
With that said, he’d have to seriously drop some of that tonnage if he’d have any chance of making the team. But the Bucs gave him $50k guaranteed it sounds like, so that should cover his grocery bill for a few weeks.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
The QB the Bucs signed was Bowling Green’s Connor Bazelak. Obviously these guys never make the team, but I will say, watching some highlights – the one thing he has that the Bucs UDFA QBs never seem to have – Bazelak has an NFL arm, that is for sure, he’s able to throw with velocity, also good size at 6′ 3″. There’s not a ton out there on him, not sure why since if you got NFL size and an NFL arm and have a bunch of production, you generally get some hype. Anywho, just an interesting pick-up, should make good camp fodder in any case, a lot better than the limp armed undersized QBs the Bucs normally pick up for that spot.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
From NFL dot com
Sanders is a hard-hitting safety who plays with good aggression but lacks consistency and playmaking traits. He will be a 25-year-old rookie, and he has missed time due to injuries in each of the last three seasons. He lacks ideal range and instincts to play high safety, but he has enough vision and aggression to compete as a down safety. Ultimately, he will need to eliminate his inconsistencies with pursuit angles and shine on special teams to have a chance of sticking with an NFL squad.
* Leggy open-field movements lack suddenness.
* Lacking the instincts/range to play high safety.
* Burst to the throw is average.
* Below-average reactive agility as an open-field tackler.
* Had major issues with angles to runners against Kansas State.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Watson and Vea will be the rebuilt Berlin Wall. That’s going to be a fun look.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
I see varying views on Sanders, you got the ones like the NFL website that say he’s a borderline NFL talent who will have to fight to make the practice squad, but I see others talking about if he was fully healthy, his ceiling was a day 2 pick, and he creates a lot of turnovers.
But being 25 years old with a long injury history and being an UDFA, the odds of him doing anything in the NFL are very small.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Bucs will release one next week, or at worst within two weeks before rookie mini camp which is in two weeks. Let’s be clear: Right now there is nothing binding UDFAs to the Bucs are any team. Until they actually sign a contract, they can (and sometimes will) change their mind and sign with someone else.
That’s why Joe isn’t huge on the UDFA lists. They are all tentative.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:49 pm
Joe Says:
That’s why Joe isn’t huge on the UDFA lists. They are all tentative.
———-
I’m not questioning you info in the least, but I’ve never heard that before. What about reports where they say, like with Watson, the team is giving him a $20k signing bonus and $50k guaranteed. Are those done deals – can they sign them right away or is there any reason they have to wait?
April 26th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
I really hope the Bull Gator makes the team. Him and Vita side by side would eliminate inside runs and QB sneaks.
I also think Jake Majors out of Texas will be the new backup center. Excellent add as an UDFA.
Shilo, not so much. Wasn’t he in trouble for beating the breaks off of a security guard, and also for bullying Cormani McClain at Colorado? I don’t see how this guy fits the team’s locker room chemistry. I suspect this will be a short stay for him in Tampa.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:52 pm
That’s an offer. Again, until a guy puts pen to paper, there is no binding contract. Joe guesses there could be documents emailed/faxed between a player or team. For Joe, it isn’t worth it to type up “So-and-so is coming to the Bucs” and two days later he’s going to the Saints.
Most of the guys will honor their agreement. Some will use an offer from a team as leverage with another. Remember it is the agents that are putting out this info, not the teams. Agents are paid representatives to look out for the best interests of their clients, not fans or teams.
Teams don’t want to get into bidding wars with other teams so they don’t want it to leak they may be offering Player-X $250,000 to sign. All of this UDFA stuff is coming from agents.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Most of the guys will honor their agreement. Some will use an offer from a team as leverage with another. Remember it is the agents that are putting out this info, not the teams.
——–
Ah, got it – I wasn’t really think about that, the agents negotiating deals via social media. But yeah, if you got some guy who is unlikely to ever make a team, and you can get them an extra $20k or something, that can make a big difference for them.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:03 pm
Our roster has no weaknesses .. Except Trask lol
April 26th, 2025 at 10:09 pm
Depth Chart looking so much better than last year already
April 26th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
I hope someone tells Liam Coen they will come to Jacksonville but change their mind before signing the contract.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:28 pm
As a Bucs fan I want nothing to do with the Sanders family.
Deion brings drama with him and he will he a problem for the team.
Hopefully Shilo doesn’t stick and the Bucs can shed these turds quickly
That’s just my opinion.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Man…I have to admit…I’m VERY happy so far this year.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Go grab Cobee Bryant. CB depth would be a strength.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
Dewey Selmon Says
“I hope someone tells Liam Coen they will come to Jacksonville but change their mind before signing the contract.”
Like you would have done differently?
April 26th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
lol damn daddy gotta be the center of attention even when his kids getting drafted. Nobody want the hear that busted arse 80’s song of his because udfa ain’t getting big money. Damn Deon don’t bring that circus down here
April 26th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
I think this was a good draft. Everyone we drafted can help this team. Love to see that!
April 26th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
I say kid should go the other way, gain another 100lbs and have a mass of almost 600lbs next to Vita when a team is trying to run up gut for a short 4th and1…or have Baker sneak behind him in same scenario!!! Wow
April 26th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
NPRBUC: You must be reading from a CU newspaper article, which Deion controls all content on and not watched any games of there’s.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Kidfloflo Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
I say kid should go the other way, gain another 100lbs and have a mass of almost 600lbs next to Vita when a team is trying to run up gut for a short 4th and1…or have Baker sneak behind him in same scenario!!! Wow
——-
You know, that’s pretty brilliant actually. Also get up around the 600lb mark if he doesn’t make the Bucs he can always try out to be a goalie for the Lightning. There isn’t anything getting by you, if you literally take up the entire net.
April 26th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Jason Licht deserves an A+ and GM of the Year
April 26th, 2025 at 11:51 pm
The brief period that the Gators staff got Watson under 400lbs, he was a monster, as he could move for his size. He started gaining the weight back as the season went on and his play slipped because of it. He was too heavy last year and could only plug holes. Nobody ran through him, though. If the Bucs staff can find a way to keep the ho ho’s away from him and get him down 60-80 pounds or so, he could be a contributor against t obvious run situations. I just won’t hold my breath, though, as he seems to really have an issue staying away from the buffet.
April 27th, 2025 at 12:22 am
He’s a really good UDFA signing. If he can stay healthy he could make the team. He was expected to be a day two prospect before his shoulder injury.
Sucks that the falcons signed Cobee Bryant. I really like him.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Signings
QB Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green
RB Josh Williams, LSU
WR Will Sheppard, Colorado
TE Anthony Landphere, Memphis
C Jake Majors, Texas
T Ben Chukwuma, Georgia State
DI Desmond Watson, Florida
LB John Bullock, Nebraska
CB Roman Parodie, Ohio
S Shilo Sanders, Colorado
Minicamp Invites
EDGE Chantz Williams, Charlotte
April 27th, 2025 at 7:53 am
My prediction for the draft was incorrect.
Jordan Polk, safety, Texas State
I predicted that the Bucs would sign him as an UDFA.
Instead, it was NE.
April 27th, 2025 at 9:38 am
falcons added Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas, they annoying me lately
April 27th, 2025 at 9:39 am
is there a rule that says we can only add one guy at each position lmao? so weird
April 27th, 2025 at 9:41 am
seahawks zy alexander. some good corners got hosed crazy draft
April 27th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Hire Suh to train up and slim down the Giant Gator and to I still some mean and nasty in the Bucs defense. He did a great job training up Vita Vea last year. We won’t win with a lineup of nice guys like Gerald McCoy. We need a line of Nasty Suhs (without the penalties of course)
April 27th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Great pick ups imo.
So it would be great if Sanders can work his way on the roster eventually this season… and ob would be fantastic if he cracked the lineup or becomes an eventual hall of famer.
One major red flag though… if he, as a practice player, tries to out speak or out shout the team leaders and hierarchy… its gonna cause problems.
Just every other practice squad player and back up… he has to earn it on the field at practice.
April 27th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
As a die hard gator fan, Watson was too unfit to make many plays for UF. Great teammate but never could be disciplined enough to get an acceptable level of fitness to play significant snaps. My hope is that he gets his fitness in check so that he can live past 40.