Shilo Sanders, another son of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, hopes to be picked in this year’s NFL draft. His more famous brother, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, still waits to hear his name called.
But there are some questions about the older Sanders brother, both on and off the field. These questions might affect whether and when he gets drafted. One of the main questions about his play is: What position will he play?
What Role Does Shilo Sanders Play on an NFL Roster?
Sanders played safety in college at South Carolina, Jackson State, and Colorado. But if he makes it to an NFL team, will he still play safety?
In his last season with Colorado, Sanders had 67 total tackles (45 solo) and two passes defended, but no interceptions. Teams will take a close look at him. Jacob Infante, an NFL Draft analyst for PFSN, observes good qualities in Sanders. He’s “quick going through his reads, identifying route concepts and picking up on a quarterback’s progressions.” Infante also notes he’s a “Versatile defender with significant reps as a deep safety, in the box, and in the slot over his collegiate career.”
His strengths suggest that any team that signs him should probably keep him at safety. However, Sanders has also played in the slot, so that teams might try him out in different spots in the secondary. Sometimes this works out well for players. For example, Tyrann Mathieu, who now plays safety for the New Orleans Saints, was a cornerback while playing at LSU.
While he has some weaknesses on the field, a big question mark about whether Sanders will get drafted comes from his off-field problems.
Will a Team Take a Chance on Sanders in NFL Draft?
Infante says Sanders’s off-field issues are a factor in his draft chances.
Infante points out that Sanders attacked a security officer in high school in 2016. He also had problems with Mercedes-Benz after filing for bankruptcy because he missed car payments. These are major off-field concerns. Sanders is also facing an assault lawsuit, which doesn’t help his situation.
Because of these off-field issues, along with some parts of his playing and the fact that he’s older than most NFL rookies, Infante thinks Sanders might get picked in the sixth or seventh round. But it’s also very possible that Shilo won’t be picked at all in the draft.
If a team needs help in their secondary, Sanders could be a good pick for a team willing to work with him and help him improve his form, tackling, and technique. The big question is whether a team will be patient enough to look past his off-field problems and see his potential in the NFL.