It’s NFL Combine season, meaning the latest crop of NFL hopefuls will have everything about them scrutinized, from their tape to their body metrics.
Everyone wants to know who runs the fastest 40-yard dash or has the highest total on the bench press. Recently, though, a highly discussed metric has been hand size for quarterbacks.
That came to a head when Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett went through the combine in 2022. Many teams were out on him from his smaller hands, but the Steelers took a chance. They traded him to the Eagles three years later because he struggled to get going in his professional career.
Jalen Milroe is the latest Alabama quarterback to jump to the NFL. He is a dual-threat quarterback whose draft stock has risen and fallen over the last two years. Right now, Milroe isn’t considered the top quarterback in the class and needs a strong combine to shoot up the draftboard.
With hand size being such an important factor the last few seasons, here is Milroe’s hand size measured at the 2025 NFL Combine.
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Jalen Milroe hand size measurement
Milroe’s hands measured 8.8 inches at the 2025 Senior Bowl, causing a stir. No current starting quarterback in the NFL has a hand size under 9 inches, and Milroe’s hands would be the smallest for a QB drafted in the NFL since Kenny Pickett (8.5 inches) in 2022.
The NFL measures hand size by taking a tape measure to an outstretched hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky.
This section will be updated with Milroe’s official measurement at the 2025 Combine.
How does Jalen Milroe’s hand size compare to past NFL QBs?
Here is how Milroe’s hand size compares to past quarterbacks.
| Quarterback | Draft | Hand Size (in) | Pass Attempts | Rush Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Hudson | 1987 | 7.25 | 1 | 1 |
| Koy Detmer | 1997 | 8 | 354 | 31 |
| Ty Detmer | 1992 | 8.125 | 946 | 72 |
| Jeff Blake | 1992 | 8.5 | 3,241 | 418 |
| Michael Vick | 2001 | 8.5 | 3,217 | 873 |
| Kliff Kingsbury | 2003 | 8.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Jalen Milroe | 2025 | TBD | — | — |
This section will be updated.
How does Jalen Milroe’s hand size compare to current NFL QBs?
Here is how Milroe’s hand size compares to other current NFL quarterbacks.
| Quarterback | Hand Size (inches) | Team |
| Kenny Pickett | 8.50 | Eagles |
| Skylar Thompson | 8.63 | Steelers |
| Jake Fromm | 8.88 | Lions |
| Brandon Allen | 8.88 | 49ers |
| J.J. McCarthy | 9 | Vikings |
| Jordan Travis | 9 | Jets |
| Joe Burrow | 9 | Bengals |
| Jalen Milroe | TBD | TBD |
This section will be updated.
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Does hand size impact performance?
Yes, it can. Larger hands allow quarterbacks to grip the football better. This will play a factor not only when they are throwing the ball but also when trying to hold onto it. The concern with quarterbacks with smaller hands is that they will fumble more.
Smallest and largest QB hand sizes in NFL history
Coaches want quarterbacks to have a hand size of at least 9.5 inches. This gives them confidence their quarterback will be able to endure a hit in the pocket, scramble with the ball, pump fake and securely pull off play action passes. Sure, fumbles will still happen, but a bigger hand size is expected to lessen the chance.
Jim Druckenmiller is credited with having the largest hands for a QB in NFL history. The 6-5 quarterback was the same size as Carson Palmer and Drew Bledsoe, but his 11.25-inch hands were over an inch larger than theirs.
The smallest recorded quarterback hand size in the NFL belongs to Doug Hudson. He was measured with 7.25-inch hands but only recorded one pass attempt and one rush attempt in his career.
