The arrival of the Sanders brothers in the NFL has generated massive expectations about their performance. That buzz stems from the fact that their father, Deion Sanders, had a truly spectacular career with every team he played for. As a result, the pressure on Shedeur and Shilo is immense. The former must convince the coaches that he deserves a spot on the Cleveland Browns’ final roster, while Shilo appears to have a stronger chance, not only of making the team, but of competing for a starting role.
Still, the battle won’t be easy for either of them. Shilo has the strength, skill, speed, and positional awareness to be a key piece for the Bucs, but the talent pool in Florida is deep.
Standout rookies in Tampa Bay
Shilo isn’t the only one with the tools to make an impact in Tampa Bay. One name raising eyebrows in the race for a starting spot is Benjamin Morrison. A hip injury kept him from being a first-round selection in the latest draft out of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish. That same injury also sidelined him for the entire second half of last season.
Jacob Parrish also joined the team via the draft, arriving from Kansas State. Along with Morrison and Shilo, both rookies will be locked in a fierce battle for playing time. The Bucs know that high-level competition brings out the best in players, and that’s precisely what they’re aiming for-developing their talent to the point where they can become one of the best secondaries in the entire league.
Benjamin Morrison could emerge as the team’s breakout player
Todd Bowles is a coach who favors defense over offense, a mindset rooted in his days as a player. He relished playing defensive back during his time with Washington, then known as the Redskins, now the Commanders, and reached the pinnacle of his playing career in the early ’90s when he won a championship.
Perhaps for that reason-and thanks to the mentorship he received from Bruce Arians during their time together-he leans toward defense. And because of that, his rookie defenders must prove they have the strength and value to earn a starting job.
While it’s the offense that has the Bucs atop the NFC South, Bowles will be closely focused on his secondary, aiming to solidify it and use it to pressure opposing offenses.
This is where a player like Benjamin Morrison becomes especially valuable. He has exactly what Bowles is looking for: a rare talent for shutting down opposing aerial attacks.
On top of that, he arrives with the spotlight already on him-something that could work in his favor.
The fight for a starting spot is fierce, as has been evident in minicamp. The preseason is just around the corner, and that’s when we’ll start to see a clearer picture of who has a real shot at making the team-and who will be cut by the end of training camp.
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