Chiefs fans already know why Andy Reid won’t touch Shilo Sanders

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid are known for sticking to their values, especially when it comes to which players they’re willing to take risks on. For years, they’ve passed on opportunities to go younger at key positions, instead bringing back aging veterans like Demarcus Robinson and, more recently, Derrick Nnadi.

The Chiefs also tend to avoid unproven free agents, even when upside is there. Every now and then, however, a “what if?” scenario surfaces, like the idea of Shilo Sanders, who just hit free agency at a time when Kansas City’s defense needs help.

Why Sanders could make sense

Bringing Sanders in for a workout wouldn’t be far-fetched given the current secondary issues. After Deon Bush tore his Achilles in the preseason opener, the unit took another blow when Mike Edwards went down with a hamstring injury against Seattle. Then the Chiefs made clear Edwards was being released.

Prior to the 53-man roster cuts being announced, the depth chart only contains second-year standout Jaden Hicks, a boom-or-bust player in Chamarri Conner, and Bryan Cook in a contract year.

There is also the second-year stud out of USC, Christian Roland-Wallace, who steps into the safety role when needed, but the addition of Shilo Sanders could provide some insurance to a secondary that has to play on one of the more dangerous football fields in just one week.

Despite his downsides (limited range, below-average agility, and angling issues), Sanders was known as a hard-hitting safety who aggressively attacks the ball. something that Steve Spagnuolo could easily utilize in small bursts. He also learned under two different coaches, including his Hall of Fame father, at three different schools and developed a great knack for stopping the run (something the Chiefs desperately need help with).

Reid also isn’t afraid of extra media attention. He gave Michael Vick a second chance in 2009 and has brought in high-profile names like Le’Veon Bell and Terrell Owens.

Why Sanders is unlikely to happen

Without trying to sound like an old record player, Reid and Veach have their preferred methods when it comes to bringing in talent. They seem to value veteran leadership and experience over youthful speed and vigor, for the most part.

But outside of all of that, Reid seems to hold onto his second chances until an experienced veteran or supreme talent truly needs it (i.e., Vick, Bell). Which means the untapped, raw, youthful talent that could be within Sanders won’t even pass Reid’s radar.

And even though Reid isn’t afraid of the extra spotlights, the one that is currently shining on Shilo and his brother, Shedeur Sanders, is brighter and hotter than any in recent memory. Urban Meyer dealt with similar issues when he famously brought back Tim Tebow to try out for the Jaguars’ tight end position during his very short tenure as head coach.

Not only that, Sanders’ final play as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer this preseason ended in an ejection after he punched Bills TE Zach Davidson. Famously, Reid does not tolerate that type of behavior on the field, and he’s shown he doesn’t care how talented one might be if that’s how they’re going to act... just look up what happened to Marcus Peters.

Even though this pipe dream—which is more of just an interesting idea for some chaos and extra cameras on Kansas City—will never happen, it is fun to think of what type of player Reid and Steve Spagnuolo could turn Sanders into over time.

If it were to ever happen, in some far-off dimension where opposite days truly exist, then Spagnuolo could easily be the coach that Sanders needs to become anything like his superstar father was before him.