The Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety, Shilo Sanders, seems to be in a precarious situation in his career as the roster cutdowns are on the horizon. The former Colorado Buffaloes defensive back joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent and has been fighting during the training camp to secure his roster spot in the final 53-man roster. Although it seems he is intent on trying to make it, recent projections cast doubts on whether he will.
FanSided Pewter Plank projections indicate that Sanders has a low probability of making the roster. His most recent roster update has five safeties: J.J. Roberts, Kaevon Merriweather, Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and star defender Antoine Winfield Jr.; however, Sanders was not included in the list. That lack has seemed to generate speculation as Coach Prime’s son could be one of the cuts when final rosters are announced.
Sanders has already developed a reputation at camp as a hard worker and playmaker and has already become a fan favorite in Tampa Bay. His physical play and intensity in practices got noticed, and many thought that he could challenge depth at the safety position, or at the very least, Sanders hoped to contribute on special teams.
The other Sanders, Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders: pic.twitter.com/tboptbDeXN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 10, 2025
Head coach Todd Bowles discussed the performance of Sanders following the preseason game of the Buccaneers against the Tennessee Titans, which ended 29-7. Sanders logged a tackle and a hit on the quarterback. Bowles seemed to be pleased by the way he maximized his opportunities and the contribution he made to the rotation, although the competition for the roster is intense.
Shilo Sanders’ Final Chance to Secure a Spot
Shilo Sanders’ spot in the NFL has yet to be determined. The Bucs have two more preseason games to go, against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. Bowles and the rest of the Tampa Bay staff will still have to assess his consistency on the field and in special teams duties in the last two games.
The safety unit of the Buccaneers has been a priority for the team in 2025, according to Sports Illustrated. The team has Kindle Vildor and resigned Bryce Hall, which created even more depth for the secondary. Athlon Sports notes that his current position shows the difficulty it is for late-round or undrafted players to make the roster, even when they are showing potential in training camp.
To Sanders, the following two weeks seem to be his best shot at showing that he belongs. His preseason output could potentially swing the analysis to his side. The question will be whether it will suffice to beat the depth chart, which is the biggest question surrounding his NFL adventure.
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