Before this year's top quarterback prospects participated in drills during the NFL Combine on Thursday night, much of the afternoon chatter surrounded the hand size of former Pittsburgh star Kenny Pickett, who measured at 8.5 inches. Based on the measurement, the 2021 Heisman Trophy finalist would actually have the smallest hands of any current NFL quarterback.
How much does quarterback hand size matter? Teams' answers might vary. The average hand size for the 39 quarterbacks taken in the first round from 2008 to 2020 is 9.7 inches, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and these stats place Pickett in a unique position. But the 23-year-old has first-round talent, and NFL draft analyst Joe DeLeone believes the narratives are excessive.
"The whole saga of Kenny Pickett's hands has been overblown from the start because he's allowed it to get overblown," DeLeone told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Friday. "Kenny decided not to let his hands get measured at the Senior Bowl, when everyone else did. That was a bit of a mistake, in my eyes. If he let his hands get measured, got it out of the way, I don't think anybody would've been talking about it now because we'd have that measurement...
"It's unprecedented to have a guy with hands this small. What helps Pickett is he played for a team that plays in really bad weather at times... There's data to show that guys with small hands tend to fumble the football. So, the concern is legitimate. He hasn't shown any issues with it affecting his ability to put zip on the football. He's also not a big-arm QB, he's more accuracy as a prospect. But concern makes sense because of what we've seen happen in the past."
Pickett, who's listed at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, is currently the fifth-ranked quarterback and 47th overall prospect on the Pro Football Focus draft board. The 23-year-old produced terrific numbers for Pittsburgh in 2021, racking up 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions en route to an ACC championship and Peach Bowl appearance. Pickett also participated in the Reese's Senior Bowl last month.
The entire NFL Draft conversation between DeLeone and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.