“That Is The No. 1 Thing You Have To Do As A Safety”
May 11th, 2025
Undrafted rookie free agent safety Shilo Sanders.
Yeah, Joe knows folks have their opinions of Deion Sanders and his sons.
Sanders, the Hall of Fame corner and perhaps the greatest athlete who ever played in the NFL (sure, many believe Bo Jackson was — but did Bo Jackson hit .533 in a World Series like Deion did?).
So when the Bucs brought out the “other” Deion son yesterday to meet with media, Shilo Sanders, a Bucs undrafted free agent safety, Joe didn’t know what to expect.
The first impression was impressive. And Joe’s not saying that just because Sanders shook everyone’s hand (a nice touch).
Shilo Sanders certainly comes across as really smart. And he said all the right things, like how he came to town early to get a head start on preparing for minicamp and a lay of the land on Tampa.
After practice Friday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles raved about Sanders calling him “very intelligent” and “very loud.”
The latter was meant to be a compliment. Bowles likes to hear his defensive backs chirping, which tells him they are on the same page and communicating.
Joe recounted Bowles’ words about Sanders to Sanders yesterday. He busted out laughing and bragged that he gets loud — and there’s a method to the madness.
“That is the No. 1 thing you have to do as a safety,” Sanders explained. “To be able to communicate and be an extension of the defensive coordinator on the field.”
He backed up his words. Watching practice inside the Glazer Shed yesterday, Joe saw Sanders was certainly demonstrative, pointing and waving on each play to make sure teammates were aware of a formation, or Sanders may have been pointing out a receiver.
“I’m being cool right now but I get really loud,” Sanders joked before practice.
Sanders showed his smarts early in practice. On a jet sweep/Benn’d Around play, where receiver Winston Wright (Eastern Carolina) tried to run from left to right, Sanders sniffed the play out immediately.
Sanders was waiting for Wright. If hitting/tackling was allowed, Sanders likely would have had a tackle for loss.
So what will Sanders do with the Bucs? Any undrafted free agent has an uphill climb, no matter who his father is. But Sanders is smart. And a guy with a good head and a good work ethic can’t be counted out this early.
And, yeah, the Bucs are a little thin at safety, too.
Just ask Rondé Barber how far having football smarts can take a player.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:09 am
The concern that I have on Sanders relates back to an incident he had when he was 15.
Now, let’s be clear — we all are immature at 15 — So I am not on him on the action when he was 15.
It is the inaction when he was 22, and the inaction by his family when he was 22.
Apparently, Sanders injured someone at school when he was 15. Can look up the details.
The concern is that the case went to trial in 2022, when he was 22.
He did not SHOW UP for the trial. That is 7 years of knowing that the case was not going away. That is 7 years of his family and he trying to understand the ramifications of not showing up for trial and what that might mean.
AND THEN PURPOSELY CHOOSING NOT TO SHOW UP.
It shows something:
1. Your choice of what it shows.
2. Sanders family thinking they are above the law.
3. Thinking that you somehow wont have to pay a verdict.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:16 am
I’m neither here nor there as far as the Sanders family goes. But I will say this about Shilo. How freaking refreshing this is to hear, “To be able to communicate…” How OFTEN have we heard the Bucs coaches say, “We didn’t communicate defensively.” Made Kirk Cousin’s look all world – twice.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:17 am
John Lynch wasn’t the fastest guy on the field but after a couple of years, he was always in the right place at the right time. As physical as football is, it’s the mental aspect that some guys can just never quite grasp.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Competition at Safety will be fierce. Marcus Banks out of Alabama deserves a long look this year after performing well enough to be on practice squad last year. Banks patrols the middle crossers like a lion hunting the savannah. Banks hits like John Lynch and should be strongly considered as he has a year under his belt in Bucs system.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:32 am
This guy has wrote a whole case about shilo when he was 15 years old and why he didn’t show up for court 7 years later lol some people are amazing. Quite frankly i don’t think shilo is good at all. But to bring up BS about a player as an adolescent says more about YOU than shilo. If this kid makes the team it would be shocking but hey he’s a good character guy for sure and very humble unlike his bro. I just don’t think his play will convert to the NFL. He’s make a great coach though one day I’m sure…lmaooo writing a thesis about a teenager as a grown man, I’m sure most people from the inner city has a good idea of this guy mindset and how he views certain groups of people
May 11th, 2025 at 8:37 am
Oh look, yet another article about Shilo Sanders. What about the rest of the rookies? How are they doing? Did the marketing team draft this kid or JL? I see nothing but a huge mistake and distraction for the team here.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Sanders got in a tussle over his phone with a school security guard who had some sort of pre-existing spinal condition, from what I can tell. Rather than fight it he decided to declare bankruptcy, it seems. I do not know if lawyers told him that was a good path to take or not.
Weird case!
I hope he is a good safety.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:47 am
I hope Shilo makes the team just to piss off all the old farts that comment on here. Don’t you haters have some puppies to go kick. Sheesh y’all are some miserable human beings.
May 11th, 2025 at 8:50 am
In the few games I’ve seen him play I have seen him strip and intercept balls. He is also a very hard hitter. His hits frequently sent the ball carrier go backward. But he will have to wrap up more to be a consistently good tackler
May 11th, 2025 at 9:11 am
The kid should have an advantage mentally over any other safety on the team whose dad was not one of the greatest DBs/players to ever strap on a helmet. Prime has been coaching him his whole life. Is that not an advantage? Pulling for the kid.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:18 am
BA’s Red Pen
Yes brother.
Even with the heroes and great men we have on this roster,
Some of our fans are still sick with hatred, judgment and jealousy.
I wish our fans would emulate our Buccaneer Culture.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Why isn’t he wearing 21? I want a jersey.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:29 am
If his name wasn’t Sanders we wouldn’t even be talking about him. As it should be.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:34 am
I’ll call it right now. He makes the team.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Dude was terrible at the college level. On that note how he gonna make it in the NFL if he didn’t dominate at the college level. I dont think he’s a distraction to the team. He is definitely a distraction to the Press because that’s all they write about for some stupid reason.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Hopefully he makes the practice squad, for starters.
May 11th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Kid has energy.
Let’s see if he can grind.
Hope he sticks
May 11th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Yeah he’ll never wear 21 on this team.
I like that he take charge but the most important thing for a safety on the field is taking the right angles and not missing assignments. I’ll talk about him when he moves up the depth chart.
May 11th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Pryda, I think he makes the team, too.
May 11th, 2025 at 10:38 am
I love his presser. The kid is sincere and down to earth. I’m rooting for him to make the team.
May 11th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Went threw a guys past at 15 he is 25 26 and you don’t know what really happened if he was bated in because of who his dad is or if he was being attacked first, then defended himself either way it goes that’s the past stop looking for things that aren’t presented to the football field
May 11th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Im pulling for Shilo…he seems like a great guy. And im not into drudging up someones adolescence past….(we all have stupid stuff we did as teens, but nobody was hurt other than their feelings) i mean if he did something stupid 3 years ago and its still lingering, ok. But thats not the case. We need help at Safety and Im hoping he kicks butt back there and who best to coach him up than Bowles and his Dad….i think he’ll get his snaps and we’ll see what happens….nothing ventured, nothing gained, he’ll have to earn all of it.
May 11th, 2025 at 11:21 am
As long as he’s not afraid to tackle like his daddy was and that mouth doesn’t become a public nuisance then ok. With a coach/fahzha like Neon Deon the fact he went undrafted to me is a red flag, however we always need undrafted guys to develop to help with the cap so hopefully he pulls a James Harrison and becomes great for us
May 11th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
I’m more interested to hear about the undrafted free agent safety out of Marshall who has great measurables a great Ras score and performed well at the collegiate level. I think he would actually have a real shot at making the 53 men roster.
May 11th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Do not really care what he has or has not done, if he can make the team better, good, if not then he will not be a Buc. I hope he does well, it will help the team and him.
GO BUCS!!!!
May 11th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
If it comes down to him and another good safety, who here believes Todd goes with the other guy?
I would personally steer clear of any drama, unless of course he is actually good.
Don’t you think Todd knows what he is doing?
May 11th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Buc Rogers Says:
May 11th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Dude was terrible at the college level
———–
I don’t watch college ball, but do read tons of scouting reports on guys, and I haven’t read anywhere that he was ‘terrible’. In fact what I read is that he was on track to be a drafted player, but got plagued by injuries. He was, however, still considered to be a priority UDFA, and reports say if he has recovered fully he might stick around as a practice squad player because of his smarts, and could even make a team. Listening to podcasts where he was brought up, the guy sounds like he is universally loved, and is basically the polar opposite of his brother in terms of his behavior and diva personality.
Not that I mind diva personalities so long as they perform. This is, afterall, the entertainment business. But I know having a personality can really turn off the dullards out there who want everyone to be as boring and bland as they are.
May 11th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
He signed a contract for 3 million. Bowles must see something.
May 11th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
J Says:
May 11th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
He signed a contract for 3 million. Bowles must see something.
———-
That’s min wage and every rookie in camp signs that same deal. The only way they ever see a penny of that deal is to make the team (and the salary is broken down per game, so if they get cut, they only get whatever weeks pay).
The only number that matters when it comes to UDFA rookies is signing bonuses or guarantees, and from what I see, he didn’t get either.
If AI is to be believed, this is what UDFA rookies get…
Workout Bonuses: UDFAs participating in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamps typically earn around $235 per workout, attending 3–4 sessions per week.
Training Camp Pay: During training camp and preseason, rookies, including UDFAs, receive approximately $1,150 per week.
May 11th, 2025 at 11:20 pm
Most athletes don’t have the genius level IQ necessary to decode Todd’s defense. This dude does. If he can scrap hard enough physically, he makes the team and might even get a lot of snaps.
Smarts > speed in Todd’s multi-off-zone defense.
May 12th, 2025 at 2:32 am
If Willie Mcgee doesn’t ignore his third base coach and doesn’t turn his head around the Atlanta Braves win the World Series and Deion Sanders is World Series MVP.
May 12th, 2025 at 4:25 am
I am fully supporting Shilo doing well and making the team. Todd and the coaches saw what they needed and gave him a chance. That is what the draft is about, giving these kids a chance after all their years of playing football. So happy for all of them.
Shilo is young and eager to play for our team. And like Joe posted, he has a “Good head and a good work ethic.” It’s a win-win for we fans too.