As he battles for a roster spot with the Buccaneers, Shilo Sanders has been on a full-court press to win over his teammates, coaches, fans, and the media—and so far, it’s working.
Sanders has made all the right moves off the field since arriving in Tampa Bay. He’s volunteered to be the “snack guy” in the safeties room to keep veteran teammates happy. He made headlines for shaking hands with every media member before his first press conference.
And on Friday, a video posted by Pewter Report showed him staying long after practice to sign autographs and take pictures with a massive crowd of fans.
#Bucs S @ShiloSanders stayed after practice to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Everyone wanted to see him! pic.twitter.com/XTO2yDZYpO
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 25, 2025
It’s clear that Sanders is winning in the court of public opinion, but his NFL future won’t be decided there. No matter how likable he is, it’s what happens when the pads come on that will ultimately determine whether he earns a roster spot in Tampa Bay.
Shilo Sanders needs strong training camp and preseason to make Buccaneers 53-man roster
There’s no shortage of competition in Tampa Bay’s secondary. With Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith pencilled in as the starting safeties, the real battle lies in the fight for depth behind them.
Shilo Sanders is squarely in the mix. He’s competing with Kaevon Merriweather and Marcus Banks for the backup strong safety role behind Smith.
He’s also battling fellow undrafted rookie J.J. Roberts, who may currently hold the edge due to his position versatility, something the Buccaneers coaching staff highly values.
That said, Sanders has the talent and football IQ to make a serious push up the depth chart. Across six college seasons at South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado, he racked up 184 tackles, six forced fumbles, and six interceptions—showcasing his tackling ability and knack for big plays.
Head Coach Todd Bowles has already taken note of the rookie’s impressive football IQ and tackling ability, which is what initially prompted the team to target him as an undrafted free agent.
“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 earlier this offseason.
“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 has made a perfect early impression off the field, but now comes the part that really counts.
Starting now at training camp, he’ll need to prove himself between the lines and make the most of every rep. If he wants to earn a spot on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster, the opportunity is there, and it’s up to him to take it.