One NFL wide receiver addressed some criticism of Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Day workout.
Sanders’ Colorado Pro Day film was scrutinized Friday, with some fixating on the double-taps and hitches in the quarterback’s throws. New York Jets safety Andre Cisco suggested this would be an issue for Sanders in the NFL, arguing that he and other defensive backs would try to use Sanders’ taps as a tell and break early on receivers to get interceptions.
Boy better stop patting that ball, we breakin onnat earlyyyy https://t.co/dZ3gl039up
— Andre Cisco (@andrecisco7) April 4, 2025
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton felt differently, however. Slayton was critical of defensive backs who thought the tap would be a tell and said Sanders would be “fine” in the NFL even with the hitch.
“I promise he can pat the ball and be just fine. (If) DB’s was so good at breaking on ball pats they’’’d all have 8+ picks a year,” Slayton wrote on X. “Same guys that fall for a 2 man dagger concept and give up the dig on 3rd & long every season all season long talkin bout a ball pat what a joke.”
😂😂I promise he can pat the ball and be just fine if DB’s was so good at breaking on ball pats they’d all have 8+ picks a year. Same guys that fall for a 2 man dagger concept and give up the dig on 3rd&long every season all season long talkin bout a ball pat what a joke😂 https://t.co/8EmvJSPIjP
— Darius Slayton (@Young_Slay2) April 5, 2025
Slayton added that defensive backs would not even be able to see what Sanders is doing behind the line, as the quarterback is only 6’1″.
There’s these large fellows called lineman who are in between line of sight so if a QB isn’t 6’4-6’5+ you lose them behind the OL all the time so if i can’t see the QB throw it to me how in the Flying Dutchman is a DB gonna see him pat it BEFORE he throws it. https://t.co/sbUrJgdc6Q
— Darius Slayton (@Young_Slay2) April 5, 2025
Slayton could very easily be one of Sanders’ future teammates, and he seems to have ample confidence in the Colorado quarterback’s abilities. There are definitely some knocks on Sanders, but there is enough on his tape that quarterback-needy teams will be tempted into picking him high up in the draft.
The Giants made Slayton a fifth-round pick in 2019 and he has carved out a solid role in the team’s offense in his six seasons with the team. Despite the team’s quarterback issues, he caught 39 passes for 573 yards in 2024, and could see those numbers rise with Russell Wilson throwing to him next season.
