Every year, the top NFL Draft prospects travel to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine. The week-long event is an opportunity for these players to meet with teams and showcase their athleticism in various drills and tests. It’s also where prospects are measured, and these official measurements can sometimes change the way a player is perceived.
For quarterbacks, one of the most important measurements is their hand size. Let’s examine the hand sizes of various QBs around the NFL.
NFL Quarterback Hand Sizes
Over the last few years, a number of quarterbacks have gone viral for measuring in with smaller hands than expected. First was Joe Burrow in 2020, when he measured in with nine-inch hands. Then, in 2022, Kenny Pickett’s eight-and-a-half-inch hands made headlines.
While these measurements may not seem like a big deal, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. says that a player’s hand size does impact his draft value.
There were 39 quarterbacks drafted in the first round from 2008 to 2020, and their average hand size was 9.7 inches, according to ESPN Stats & Information. None had hands smaller than nine inches. Pickett ultimately ended this trend when he was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts.
— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) February 24, 2020
When Burrow’s hands were criticized for being small, he didn’t fail to notice.
“Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts,” Burrow said on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Burrow was later selected No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, and it’s safe to say that his small hands haven’t prevented him from dominating in the league. Pickett, on the other hand, hasn’t had the same success.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Will Levis has the largest hands in the NFL, measuring in at 10 and 5/8 inches. Jordan Love and Anthony Richardson have the next-largest hands, both coming in at 10 and a half inches.
Here are the hand sizes for every team’s starting quarterback, according to NFL measurements, from smallest to largest:
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: 9
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: 9
- Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints: 9 1/8
- Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos: 9 1/8
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9 1/4
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: 9 1/4
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: 9 1/4
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks: 9 1/4
- Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: 9 3/8
- Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings: 9 3/8
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: 9 1/2
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: 9 1/2
- Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots: 9 3/4
- Daniel Jones, New York Giants: 9 3/4
- Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: 9 3/4
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: 9 3/4
- Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders: 9 3/4
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers: 9 3/4
- Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears: 9 7/8
- Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons: 9 7/8
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: 10
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: 10
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: 10
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: 10
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 10
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: 10
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 10 1/8
- Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets: 10 1/8
- Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers: 10 1/4 inches
- Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: 10 1/2
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers: 10 1/2
- Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: 10 5/8