There’s a certain weight that comes with being a Sanders. Only Shedeur Sanders has been successful till now, lighting up defenses and cementing himself as a top-3 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. For older brother Shilo Sanders, though, the path hasn’t been quite as smooth. Injuries, inconsistent performances, and now, viral clips from the East-West Shrine Bowl have all cast doubt on his NFL future. And when Coach Prime’s own attempt to hype his son didn’t stick, Shilo’s mother, Pilar Sanders, seems to have taken things into her own hands…

Shilo’s draft stock has been on a rollercoaster ride for months, and not the fun kind. The graduate’s physicality and leadership at Buffs made him a fan favorite, but scouts aren’t just looking for the biggest hitter in the secondary—they want range, ball skills, and discipline. That’s where the cracks started to show.

Then came the injury in September last year—a costly setback that not only took him off the field but also put a dent in his draft projection. Now, in the indoor facility in Mobile, the 1-on-1 drills exposed yet another issue: coverage struggles against future NFL-caliber receivers. Case in point: A clip of him getting torched in practice went viral ahead of the East-West Shrine Game in Texas where was seen struggling to contain WRs. You could say his stocks are going in the way where he was going in the clip—in the wrong direction.

So, as expected, critics jumped in with their less-than-favorable take. “Shilo Sanders’ draft stock reportedly “did not improve much” with his performances in the Shrine Bowl practices. Sander’s was reportedly “relying on talent more than effort” and was getting beat by WR’s and even TE’s on very simple routes. One NFL scouting source reportedly believes there’s “not much more” to Shilo’s game than a big hit right now. Sanders is currently a projected day three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Colorado DB has some WORK to do before the draft rolls around,” NFL Rookie Watch posted on Instagram not long after.

And even Deion’s efforts to defend his son only went so far. “Hey, just watched practice with the guys. Man, I’m so proud of them. Just seeing all the CU in the East-West Shrine practice uniforms going at it, giving it their all. They only know one speed, and that’s all speed. That’s 100. I am so proud of them. I’m like a proud daddy right now, and I’m sending them off into the NFL. And they are prepared, they are equipped, but most of all, they’re ready,” the Buffs coach had said.

However, resilience alone doesn’t secure a spot in the top rounds of the draft. That’s when Pilar Sanders stepped in. She wasn’t about to let the internet bury her son before he even got his shot. Instead of engaging in the debate over his on-field struggles, the mother of the Sanders brothers took the PR route on Instagram and shared a video by High School On SI of Shilo signing autographs and putting a smile on kids’ faces after the Bowl practices. “Shi Love the Kids.”

It was a savvy play, but the reality remains: Shilo is staring down a tough draft outlook. According to Rookie Watch, he’s currently projected as a Day 3 pick, which, given the depth at the safety position, is far from guaranteed. If his Shrine Bowl performance fails to impress scouts, that projection could slide even further, putting him in the dreaded undrafted free-agent territory.

In today’s day and age, being a Sanders only buys you so much time. The NFL doesn’t do family discounts. If anything, the scrutiny on Shilo is even harsher because of who his father and brother are. Teams will ask: If Shedeur is a franchise quarterback and Deion is one of the greatest defensive backs of all time, why hasn’t Shilo lived up to that standard?

If you’re someone who has followed the Coach Prime docuseries, it pulled back the curtain on these expectations. There were moments where even Deion Sanders and Colorado, DC Robert Livingstone, openly questioned Shilo’s play. That’s the double-edged sword of playing for your father—there’s no sugarcoating mistakes when the coach also happens to be your dad.

Top Comment by Bill Knott

No, to self centered, has speed but no control. Will go undrafted, name alone will get him a little chance.

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Debate

I mean, who doesn’t remember Deion Sanders’ honest critique of his son: You know, Shilo has a situation where he gotta work his butt off to go where he wants to go in whatever round that is gonna be.” 

At the end of the day, Shilo’s name will only carry him so far. Deion’s belief, and even Shedeur’s own success, won’t be enough if Shilo doesn’t put the right kind of tape on the field.

Where Shilo Sanders stands right now

The 6′ 0″ safety with 67 tackles in 2024 is an intriguing prospect heading into the NFL Draft and his path to hearing his name called won’t be an easy one. While he’s a versatile safety with the ability to slide into a nickelback role, concerns about his physical profile, height, injury history, and even age have made him a borderline draftable player in the eyes of many scouts.

At 25 years old on draft night—the same age as Trevor Lawrence, who’s already spent four years in the league—Shilo Sanders faces an uphill battle in convincing teams he’s worth a selection. According to Mirror US Sports, he currently projects as a 7th-round pick, meaning he’ll have to impress at pro days, workouts, and interviews to boost his stock.

One intriguing possibility? A team that drafts Shedeur Sanders could take a late-round flyer on Shilo to keep the brothers together. With the Sanders name carrying significant weight in football, it would be shocking to see a franchise gamble on both. But dreaming is free. The question is: Does Shilo have one last push in him to prove the critics wrong?

Let us know what you think of the situation in the comments below!