As is tradition at the NFL Combine, the hand size of a quarterback prospect was discussed ad nauseum on Thursday, as Pittsburgh star Kenny Pickett's right hand measured at 8.5 inches. At this measurement, the 2021 Heisman finalist would have the smallest hands of any current NFL quarterback.
Of course, hand size doesn't decide whether a quarterback will succeed or fail at the pro level. Joe Burrow's hand happened to measure below league average (9 inches) during the 2020 combine, and he carried the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance last month. But, teams want as much information as possible, so Pickett's hand size narrative remains. Somehow.
"The reason that hands are a factor is two-fold," NFL insider and podcast host Jordan Schultz told the Maggie and Perloff show on Thursday. "One, you think about bad weather. He played in bad weather in Pittsburgh and in tremendous winds. I was talking to an assistant GM who said that he's able to drive the ball downfield with his arm, he's a much better athlete than we thought...
"It matters, but Baker Mayfield has really big hands and look how he's played. Not great. Russell Wilson has really big hands, he's become a superstar. It's certainly a factor, it could affect his draft a little bit. But given the production, he basically was the best quarterback in the country throughout the entire season. I think he's got a great opportunity to go inside the top 10, and I get the sense right now, he's the No. 1 quarterback on most teams' boards."
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 conversation between Schultz and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.