Shilo Sanders is not in the Bay Area just to put on the Bucs shirt on game days and be on the sidelines. He’s here to make his voice heard. “I’m a competitor,” he said at his first Buccaneers press conference, fully aware of the steep climb ahead as an undrafted free agent. His focus? Let the tape speak louder than the draft boards ever did. And that starts now, in rookie minicamp, where even the smallest detail can nudge you onto the 53-man roster… Or straight into free agency.

But what’s making headlines just as much as Shilo’s vocal presence is the calm, confident demeanor of Emeka Egbuka. The rookie wideout out of Ohio State came in with pedigree and poise, and he wasted no time embracing a leadership role. When asked about guiding the rookie class, Egbuka didn’t blink. “Someone’s got to kind of lead and take charge, and I feel very capable and confident in doing that,” he said.

Now, you see that’s a healthy problem. Because, that leadership quality? Yeah, Todd Bowles has seen it in both of his new rookies. On Shilo, the Bucs head coach offered cautious optimism: “He’s very intelligent, very loud. He has a good grasp of things Day 1… but you have to make plays in pads.”

Translation: The playbook isn’t the problem. Execution is. Bowles knows how thin the margin is for undrafted players. It’s not enough to flash. You have to stick. For Shilo, the challenge is real. No signing bonus. No guarantees. Just a three-year, $2.965 million deal that comes with an $840,000 base salary. But the safety room has a hole: Jordan Whitehead’s spot is still open.

So, you see, while Shilo is battling uphill to prove he belongs, Emeka’s in a goldmine situation already. Especially with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as his mentors, and a red-hot Baker Mayfield under center, the situation gives Egbuka a perfect landing pad. Still, he’s not waiting quietly. “They don’t want to deal with all the mess that comes with a rookie class,” he said about the vets. “So just making sure that we’re all in line.” That’s not just self-awareness, it’s professionalism, too. Something that Tampa is seeing from their rookies this season.

Shilo Sanders is not taking the opportunity for granted

Shilo Sanders didn’t walk into his first NFL media session like a rookie trying to blend in. He walked in like a guy who knows the moment matters. No ego. Just a firm handshake to begin the proceedings, or at least he wanted to shake hands with every reporter in the room. Before a single question was asked, he’d already made his statement. If you’re trying to make the 53-man roster as an undrafted safety, this is how you start: by being memorable for the right reasons.

That kind of presence doesn’t happen by accident. Shilo’s been under the lights before, growing up in a family where the cameras never really turned off. But this wasn’t about pedigree or his last name. It was about showing up with respect and readiness. “It’s just a blessing being able to practice against guys like that,” he said. Imagine just throwing respect and humility to go up the ladder. But more than the character, the numbers don’t lie.

In just 21 games over his final two seasons at Colorado, Shilo put up 137 tackles, forced five fumbles, and picked off a pass. Not flashy stats. But you don’t need ’em to be bold. Especially for a guy whose job will be to clean up chaos on the back end. Coaches remember the guy who forces fumbles, not the one chasing from behind.

The reality is simple. Shilo knows the playbook is the only place he can rewrite the draft story. His brother Shedeur, taken in the fifth round by Cleveland, said it best: “I’ve got practice… so none of that stuff matters.” That’s the mindset. Shilo’s just channeling it in Tampa.