To kick off his press conference during the second week of OTAs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was asked to name his favorite rookie. It didn't take long for him to fawn over UDFA safety Shilo Sanders.
Winfield went on to compliment Sanders’ work ethic and drive that he’s displayed since arriving in Tampa Bay.
“Shilo [Sanders], gotta go with him. That’s my dog right there. Shoutout to him,” said Winfield.
“He really wants to learn and he just wants to improve his game and that is something that you admire from somebody coming in who wants to learn and actually play this game,” said Winfield, via a clip shared to X by BucsGameday on SI’s River Wells. “He’s a great kid. He works tremendously hard. I can’t say enough about him.”
Sanders already made headlines for the strong first impression he made back at rookie minicamp, and to now be embraced by Winfield, who is a team captain and the team’s best defensive player, is great news for Sanders.
Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. praises Shilo Sanders
If he can continue to build strong chemistry with Winfield, it could make a real difference when it comes time for roster cuts. That kind of rapport with the undisputed leader of the secondary could prove to be the difference-maker in securing a roster spot as a depth piece in the safety room.
In his six college seasons, Sanders totaled 184 tackles, six forced fumbles, and six interceptions while playing for South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado. His main issue has been availability, along with a lack of consistency in his play.
Sanders played just seven games in 2022 before suffering an ACL injury that ended his season, and he missed three games last year with a broken forearm.
If he can stay healthy while refining the weaker aspects of his game via coaching and learning from players like Winfield, he has the potential to carve out a role and even develop into a significant contributor down the line.
Head Coach Todd Bowles has already taken note of the rookie's impressive football IQ and tackling ability.
“I think he’s a good football player. He’s a heck of a tackler and he knows the game very well; he can see the game very well. So giving him a chance to play, we think he has a shot to help us from a safety standpoint and from a special teams standpoint,” said Bowles in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I saw him tackle all year. I saw him make plays. He’s a very smart player and he understands the game very well. So we thought it was worth a shot to see what he can do. And I think he’ll show himself well.”
Sanders already has both Bowles and Winfield Jr. in his corner, and if he can continue to build on this momentum throughout the offseason, it’s difficult to envision the Buccaneers not finding a spot for him on the final 53-man roster.