If waiting for six rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft and then some was not enough for Shilo Sanders, he might need to stay put longer. Since he was cut from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ camp in the preseason finale, the safety out of Colorado is yet to make his NFL debut. Amid the wait, he is only hearing more bad news.

Entering the 2026 offseason, turns out no team is looking to add a safety, as reported by The Athletic in their league-wide analysis to identify each franchise’s biggest offseason requirement. 

Instead of prioritizing safety, teams focused on strengthening the trenches, boosting pass rushes, and upgrading quarterbacks, receivers, cornerbacks, and centers. Even teams like the Dallas Cowboys, who could very well use enhancements on their defense, are not prioritizing the safety position.

After ranking 28th in the league defense, according to PFF, the team needs to bolster almost every defensive spot besides defensive tackle. They will probably begin with edge rushers, safeties, linebackers, and cornerbacks.

However, the Jacksonville Jaguars are also looking to improve their secondary.

It is unlikely they will use their draft picks on a safety, so there is a sliver of opportunity there. Not to mention, Travis Hunter is in Jacksonville, who has played with Shilo Sanders in Colorado. Moreover, their current safety, Andrew Wingard, is set to be a free agent this offseason.

It is very likely that the Jaguars may not even need to look outside with Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson on their roster. Last season, Johnson’s playing time expanded throughout the season as he added impressive ball production. He logged five interceptions and three pass breakups. But under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s three-safety looks, they will still require a third leg on the roster.

Sanders is already a fan of Florida and wouldn’t mind going there. As for the Jaguars, they can use a safety like him.

The former three-star recruit began his college career with the South Carolina Gamecocks before transferring to Jackson State in 2021. He transferred to Colorado after two years to train under his father, Deion Sanders, who served as head coach in both colleges. In those two years, he amassed 134 total tackles, five pass deflections, and a sack.

Similarly, the Kansas City Chiefs may not prioritize safety. Andy Reid’s team lacked consistent pass rushers. While Chris Jones had a solid year, George Karlaftis’s thumb injury prevented him from playing at his usual level. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott aided the defense, but they can seek more edge help moving forward.

Unfortunately, the situation leaves Shilo Sanders waiting for the right opportunity to fit a team’s specific needs. Meanwhile, the on-field incident that crushed his NFL dreams continues to be a hurdle.

Shilo Sanders’ preseason punch continues to haunt him

After Shilo went undrafted in 2025, the Buccaneers secured him as a free agent. Throughout the OTAs, mini-camps, and training sessions, Sanders made a name for himself in Tampa Bay. In fact, with his preseason performances, he would’ve made the final roster, too. But the preseason finale became a nightmare for him when in August 2025, the team parted ways with the player.

During a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Shilo drew a penalty for unnecessary roughness. The incident occurred in the second quarter following several aggressive exchanges while tight end Zach Davidson was blocking him. He ended up punching Davidson, which led to the safety’s ejection and a fine of around $4,699. Speaking after his team’s 23-19 loss, Head Coach Todd Bowles addressed Shilo’s act that violated the NFL rulebook.

“You can’t throw punches in this league, that’s inexcusable,” Bowles said. “They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”

Sanders’ agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey hoped another team would claim Sanders off waivers, but that never happened. The reason was simple: how do you trust him?

If Sanders joins another NFL team and repeats the same behavior, it could be problematic for everyone involved. Moreover, no team would want to put its resources into a player whom it cannot trust. However, Deion Sanders’ former teammate from Dallas, Michael Irvin, gave a vote of confidence in him in December, hoping that he gets another chance.

That, of course, depends on both sides. And right now, no team is looking straight at that position.

Following his release and with no immediate contract offers, Sanders has been exploring other career options. He has explored multiple fields, including music, acting, and modeling. In 2024, he walked at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter 2024 show in Paris. He also released a fifteen-track album, Hate 2 Love, in January 2025.

In October, he even teased about releasing new music in November. While he provided no further updates, it won’t be surprising to spot Shilo Sanders pursuing other passions in the meantime.