Why hand is size measured at the NFL Combine, and why teams care greatly about QBs’ numbers

Abraham Smith

As the 2023 NFL Combine approaches, you’ll likely hear a lot more discussion about hand size.

In particular, measuring the hand size of prospective quarterbacks has become an important part of the drafting process. A player can have a lot of success in college and great stats, but if their hands are “undersized,” they may have to worry about their draft stock taking a hit. A recent example of this is Steelers QB Kenny Pickett, whose 8.5-inch hand size may have put off potential suitors.

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What is the point of measuring hand size? How is an official hand measurement carried out?

The Sporting News dives deep into the NFL’s fascination with quarterback hands — and why size supposedly matters:

Why is hand size measured at the NFL Combine?

The logic is pretty simple: big hands mean better grip on the ball, which can only be good for quarterbacks. Especially for teams that often play in cold and wet weather, a QB with larger hands seems to have a very real advantage over those with smaller hands.

It’s become a serious consideration for NFL scouts and coaches, who often ask to see players’ hands when watching them throw.

A hand size less than 9 inches is generally considered a red flag. The last QB to have significant success with hands under 9″ was Michael Vick, who – like Pickett – measured 8.5″.

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But if you look at the numbers, there’s no significant correlation between hand size and success. For example, the Bengals’ Joe Burrow has some of the smallest hands of any QB in the league at just 9 inches. He once joked that he was considering retirement after learning about his “tiny” hand size.

Patrick Mahomes, fresh from his second MVP honor and the Lombardi Trophy, measures a below-average 9.25 inches.

At the other end of the spectrum, the biggest hands in the league at 10.25 inches belong to Russell Wilson. Wilson has had a miserable debut season in Denver, which saw the Broncos finish bottom in the AFC West, 5-12.

Other notable big-handed QBs include Aaron Rodgers (10.125), Josh Allen (10.125), Justin Herbert (10), Dak Prescott (10), and Trevor Lawrence (10).

According to ESPN, the average hand size for the 39 first-round quarterbacks from 2008-2020 is 9.7 inches. Compare that to the average male hand size, which is just 7.4 inches.

In short, all these guys have big hands; some are just bigger than others.

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How is hand size measured in the NFL Combine?

For NFL purposes, hand size is measured from the tip of the pinky to the tip of the thumb with the hand extended as follows:

This is done because it reflects the position of the hand when gripping a soccer ball better than measuring from palm to fingertip. An NFL football is about 21 inches in circumference, which means NFL quarterbacks can comfortably grab between 40 and 50 percent of the ball at a time when throwing a pass.

This all adds up to unfortunate news for some of you reading this: If your hands are under 8.5 inches, you may have a tough time making it as an NFL quarterback. It’s probably best to have a backup plan, just in case.

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