Shilo Sanders came to Tampa with the name recognition and the hunger to prove he belonged. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders had shown flashes of playmaking ability at Colorado, and after going undrafted, he landed a shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a UDFA safety.
But making an NFL roster isn’t about headlines-it’s about fit, timing, and sometimes, money. And right now, Sanders might be losing ground to someone with fewer cameras but more momentum.
According to Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, J.J. Roberts-another undrafted rookie-is currently the favorite to grab the final safety spot in Tampa’s crowded secondary. The numbers don’t lie: Roberts had a draftable grade, received a pre-draft visit from the Bucs, and was awarded a healthy chunk of guaranteed money. Sanders, on the other hand, didn’t get the same treatment.
Practice Squad Seems More Likely for Sanders
Despite strong intangibles, depth and experience may keep him off the initial 53-man roster.
It’s not that Sanders has done anything wrong. Quite the opposite. JP Peterson of Fan Stream Sports says team sources have been “blown away” by his work ethic and attitude. “He’s done everything you’d want a rookie to do,”Peterson said on The JP Peterson Show. “If he doesn’t make the 53, he’s almost guaranteed to land on the practice squad.”
And that might be his best path forward.
The Bucs already have their starting safety duo in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. Behind them are Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather-both experienced and familiar with Todd Bowles’ system. If Tampa carries only four safeties, Sanders is likely out. If they keep five, he’ll still have to leapfrog Roberts, who has done nothing to hurt his own case.
Sanders is still in the mix, but the competition is steep. The NFL doesn’t give out roster spots based on last names. Not even this one.
Read the full article here
