The 2025 NFL Draft class is bringing with it one of the most polarizing rookies in recent memory. Thanks to his last name and demeanor, along with debates about his on-field production, Shedeur Sanders has been the subject of sports media for quite some time. And at Colorado’s Pro Day, a new topic joined the fray.
During the evening’s proceedings, Sanders’ performance had some people gushing while others debated—as has become par for the course. But the biggest topic of conversation became the apparent ball-patting the young QB did before throwing it. As current players chimed in, a huge debate broke out. Now, a few former players are weighing in with their opinions on the matter.
Shedeur Sanders and Patting the Football
The situation became a major talking point when current players noted that Sanders was patting the football before his throws. While some, like Micah Parsons, thought it was a serious issue, others, like Darius Slayton, backed the quarterback.
As talk shows picked up the conversation, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky weighed in on NFL Live. His argument was simple: look at the history of the game.
“Football has been around for a long time. Some of the great quarterbacks in the NFL have patted the football—Dan Marino, John Elway, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford. It matters for some and it doesn’t matter for others.”
.@danorlovsky7 explains why some of the greatest QBs in NFL history 'patted' the football before throwing it.
Will it help or hurt Shedeur Sanders in the NFL? 👀 pic.twitter.com/8QiZiRnG6d
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL)
Orlovsky broke it down further: “The ones that it doesn’t matter for, they have a couple of traits. One, elite arm strength, or a lightning-quick release—that’s a player like Aaron Rodgers or Josh Allen. Or, they play with remarkable anticipation and ball placement.”
“Now the ones who it does matter to—average or below-average arm strength, or it takes you a long time to see the window open or shut, or you have average anticipation and ball placement—that’s when it’s going to matter.”
For Sanders, who threw for 4,134 yards, completed 74% of his passes, and had 37 touchdowns despite playing behind a shaky offensive line at Colorado, Orlovsky doesn’t see it as a red flag.
“I do not think Shedeur falls into that group for the most part.”
He did note one potential concern: “If you want to have a conversation about arm strength, we can probably have that one. That would be the only moment. Or quick game.”
According to Orlovsky, nearly every quarterback pats the ball right after catching it as a “timing mechanism,” but holding it too long can cause problems. Still, he doesn’t believe Sanders is doing that to a damaging degree.
“I think more often than not this is nothing more than something.”
Orlovsky wasn’t alone in defending Sanders. NFL Network analyst Brian “Baldy” Baldinger pointed to Tom Brady—widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time—to make his case.
“So out of nowhere…seemingly…the ‘ball pat’ from a QB is some signal that DBs are going to ‘jump on’ and game plan. Have fun picking the GOAT apart.”
.@Buccaneers @TomBrady @CUBuffsFootball @ShedeurSanders so out of no where….seemingly…the "ball pat" from a QB is some signal that DB's are going to "jump on" and game plan. Have fun picking the GOAT apart. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XIuM4p0Ifq
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL)
As shown in the clip Baldinger shared, ball-patting isn’t a red flag—even for the greats. It’s just part of some quarterbacks’ routine. Whether it becomes a problem for Sanders remains to be seen, but there’s already plenty of evidence to quiet some of the doubt that’s started building.
