Shilo Sanders is going all in with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Every practice rep counts, and he’s leaving nothing on the table as he fights to earn a spot on the roster by training camp.
He’s not just working behind the scenes; he’s taking first-team reps, something he mentioned during a recent Twitch livestream. That alone shows the coaching staff is watching him closely.
But it’s not just about his own grind. According to Shilo, the entire team is locked in. In his latest YouTube video, he shared how intense things have been on the field, with teammates pushing their limits every day.
He’s surrounded by top-level pros who bring it on every snap, and that environment is clearly shaping his mindset. The stakes are high, the pace is fast, and Shilo’s right in the middle of it, focused, hungry, and putting in real work as the Bucs gear up for camp.
Shilo Sanders on Baker Mayfield
“Baker will not throw me that ball. He will not throw me that ball.” That’s how Shilo Sanders described going up against Baker Mayfield in practice. It wasn’t trash talk, but a clear nod to Mayfield’s precision. Shilo, a defensive back trying to make the Buccaneers’ roster, knows exactly what kind of challenge he’s facing.
Baker Mayfield’s accuracy backs it up. Last season, he posted an 81.7% adjusted accuracy rate, the highest in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks. Even Patrick Mahomes came in slightly behind at 81.1%. That stat strips away throwaways, spikes, and drops. It’s a real look at how well a quarterback puts the ball where it needs to be. In other words, exactly what Shilo is dealing with every day.
Shilo didn’t just single out Baker. He also highlighted the entire roster’s drive and unity. “But everybody on the team is cool, man… we got the coolest team… we got the best vets,” he said. Coming from a guy taking first-team reps and fighting for his spot, that kind of praise speaks volumes.
Going against one of the NFL’s most accurate passers in daily practice isn’t easy. But for Shilo, it’s a challenge he’s leaning into, and it’s giving him a front-row look at what top-level quarterback play really looks like.
Shilo Sanders on Going Against Mike Evans
“We practice against Mike Evans and them every day,” said Shilo Sanders, summing up the level of competitiveness he’s facing at Buccaneers camp. And that’s not just any receiver. Mike Evans is one of the most consistent and dangerous wideouts in NFL history.
He recently extended his record for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career, hitting 10 straight. That puts him within striking distance of Jerry Rice’s all-time record of 14.
Lining up against Evans daily isn’t just a test. It’s a fast track to learning the real speed and physicality of the NFL. Evans stands 6’5”, runs crisp routes, and knows how to win contested catches. For a defensive back like Shilo, it is a perfect welcome to the NFL moment.
It’s the kind of matchup that either exposes you or elevates your game. Shilo’s embracing it, knowing well that if you can hang with Mike Evans in practice, you’re not far off from holding other elite wideouts on Sundays.
If Shilo Sanders keeps holding his own against talents like Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, making the Buccaneers roster won’t just be possible, it’ll be well earned.
