When your last name is Sanders, expectations are not just high—they are sky-high. Shilo Sanders is such an individual that he has never been the one to shy away from the spotlight. He carves his own path with undeniable talent, grit, and swagger. But the picture is taking a different path now altogether. Buckle up, because his journey is just getting started. And now, we might be witnessing the most exciting chapter of his life.
Where Could Shilo Sanders Play if He Doesn’t Get Drafted to the NFL?
It is certainly possible that Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes goes undrafted. He didn’t land on the 25-player B/R NFL Scouting Department big board. He’s ranked at No. 370 on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. And the draft ended after pick No. 257. So, it’s a definite possibility that he could be looking for Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) opportunities.
Of course, it’s worthy to note that there are plenty of opportunities once the draft winds down on Saturday. So, there are high chances that the chappie finds an NFL home. It might not be just via the draft process. Some potential teams are among the options, like the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, and some of the others. There are the teams that need depth at the safety position, making Shilo a promising candidate.
In conclusion, even if he’s not picked during the main round of the draft, he can certainly step into the league as a prized UDFA. It’s a path that many NFL stars have walked through once. And even if the draft day doesn’t shine on him, his journey is just getting started. And the right team can be just a phone call away.
Can Shilo Sanders join the CFL, USFL, or arena football if He Misses the NFL?
If the NFL doors don’t open right away for Shilo, he’s ready to explore other exciting paths. Every year, thousands of college players hope to get drafted, but only a few actually hear their names called. So the big question is: what happens to those who don’t? Is it the end of their football dreams?
No, definitely not. For starters, they are offered the UDFA opportunities as mentioned earlier. The players also attend rookie mini-camps, where they get the scope to showcase their skills and earn potential spots on the roster of a team. In fact, some of the most successful players, like Warren Moon and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, went undrafted.
Nevertheless, they still went on to have legendary careers in the league. So for Shilo, he can also explore professional leagues like the United States Football League (USFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Arena Football League apart from UDFA. And these are more than just backup plans. With a solid showcasing of skills, it even set the stage for a powerful NFL comeback.
The CFL provides a competitive platform with a rich history of nurturing defensive backs. On the other hand, Arena Football and the USFL deliver a fast-paced environment that’s perfect for hard-hitting and agile safeties like Shilo. Now, you have gotten this scenario as a scenic detour rather than a dead end. So from here we can also draw up a moral that if one door closes, players, here in the case of Shilo, could kick open another. And certainly, it might just head towards the epitome of another greatness.
What Other Sports or Jobs Could Shilo Sanders Try if Football Doesn’t Work Out?
If football doesn’t work out for Shilo, his media savvy and vibrant personality suggest a seamless transition into other arenas. After his uninspiring East-West Shrine Bowl showing and latest setback in the NFL combine with a poor end to the 2024/25 NCAA season, several critiques have come his way, suggesting some other profession. Suggestions like he should turn to camera with videography and such rather than chasing his football dreams, but Shilo certainly laughed off this notion. He said, “Got a new camera. Everyone’s saying, ‘Time to pick up the camera!’ Didn’t get invited to the combine? Tell him to grab a camera like his brother!” Shilo clearly laughed, amused by this suggestion. His carefree attitude typically suggested that he wasn’t letting any of the comments affect him.
While answering to the critiques he even compared himself with President Donald Trump: “If you just hate me, or you want to hate me… paint me in a bad picture, they do that to our president, they do that to everybody, you know,” his response in an interview. And can also be seen by a video pasted to X by Joe Bonham.
Shilo Sanders addresses the haters saying how they paint him in a bad picture “they do that to our president, they do it to everybody”. He added the clips were cherry picked and says scouts will look at how he played today and this season. pic.twitter.com/IYpD7T6TGy
— Joe Bonham (@JoeBonham15) January 31, 2025
However, while he is still holding on to his dreams of being in the NFL draft, he showed a positive outlook on the suggestions of critiques showing a different alternative career path, be it football or not. He acknowledges that videography is a profitable field, specifically in sports.
It’s true that teams are always in need of high-quality footage for sharing engaging content online and showcasing their players. For real, his brother Deion Jr., who goes by “Bucky,” is also known to find significant success in this field. “If y’all know how much Bucky makes, y’all wouldn’t be saying that. Because that’s actually a solid career,” Shilo said.
Apart from this, he also has a major prospect of being a content creator. His active presence on social media with engaging fans has showcased his potential as an influencer or content creator. On the other hand, his leadership qualities and resilience could evidently translate well into coaching roles or motivational speakers for young athletes. While his professional career in the football arena remains unsettled, his dynamic skill set and charisma open doors for catering to different career avenues beyond the gridiron.
The post What’s Next for Shilo Sanders If He Goes Undrafted? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
