Shilo Sanders is officially back on the market. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived the undrafted rookie safety after a preseason ejection for throwing a punch, ending what had been a rocky August for the former Colorado standout. He finished the preseason with just four tackles, and the off-field baggage — plus a punch on the field — didn’t help his cause. Now, with final roster cuts looming, there’s at least a chance another team gives him a look. Enter the New York Giants.
There’s been zero smoke connecting them to Sanders, and this would be more of a roster flyer than a depth-chart shake-up. But there is some logic behind it. Sanders brings special teams value, decent physical tools, and comes from a football background that always generates attention. He wouldn’t crack the top of the rotation, but this is a team still sorting out the bottom of the safety room, and there’s at least a window here.
Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin have the starting roles locked down. Dane Belton is clearly the No. 3. But behind them, things are less secure. K’Von Wallace has already been let go. Raheem Layne is battling a groin injury at the worst possible time. And Makari Paige, while promising, is still an undrafted rookie looking to make a name for himself.
Giants safety depth leaves room for a speculative move
There’s nothing clean about a potential fit. Sanders is already 25, has a long list of injury concerns, and is coming off a preseason filled with missed tackles, poor angles, and one very costly punch.
He also reportedly wants to stick to safety rather than move around, and there's potential that defensive coordinator Shane Bowen asks him to move around like he did with Isaiah Simmons. So, it’s a long shot... no question about it.
Still, this is a name that will sell a few tickets and jerseys. And for a team looking to keep its options open, there are worse ways to fill a back-end safety spot or practice squad slot. Sanders wouldn’t be brought in to compete for snaps. But he might be the type of player the front office throws into the mix just to see if there’s anything worth salvaging. After all, he comes with that Sanders name.
Roster cuts hit Tuesday at 4 p.m. If Sanders slips through waivers, it’s not impossible the Giants make a quick move. They probably won’t, but in this league, probably is hardly a guarantee, and doesn’t always mean no.