As a potential top-five NFL Draft selection and future franchise QB, evaluators want to make absolutely sure that Jared Goff is the real deal. The main concern about him was possibly his hand size, and Goff's hands measured nine-and-one-eighth inches Friday, though they measured nine inches at the NFL Draft Combine.
The other was his playing career taking place in sunny California, which could be a major concern when coupled with his (allegedly) small hands. To test if Goff actually has trouble gripping a wet football, Cleveland Browns QB coach Pep Hamilton sprayed a few balls with water.
#Browns Pep Hamilton just squirted water on the ball to see if Goff can throw a wet ball. Veteran move Pep
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 18, 2016
It is a legitimate concern for the Browns, who play in their fair share of games in bad weather and who have a history of whiffing on quarterback prospects. With the second overall pick and Johnny Manziel on his way out, the Browns are reportedly considering taking either Goff or North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz.
"Growing up in California, they probably wanted to see that and that makes sense," Goff said Friday. "At the same time, I've played in cold weather before and I wouldn't be the first quarterback to go from California to cold weather. I think Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are doing pretty well. They're able to do it."
Jared Goff wraps up session with deep, 40 yarder. Was 61-69 with two drops. Some wobblers but some nice throws as well. — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 18, 2016
Nine inches is widely seen as the "magic number" for a QB's hand size, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. Having big hands is not a guaranteed indicator of success (see: Manziel, Jonathan P.) and it is considered more important for shorter QBs.
Goff is six-foot-four, the prototypical height. Other tall QBs that have had success despite having hands that measure at or below nine inches are Colin Kaepernick (9.13 inches), Tony Romo (8.86 inches) and Michael Vick (8.5 inches). Regardless, Browns head coach Hue Jackson was clear that hand size matters to him.
"It does. It matters because we play in a division where all of a sudden there's rain, there's snow and it's different," he said. "I think guys that have big hands can grip the ball better in those environmental situations and so we'll look for a guy that fits what we're looking for in a quarterback and is hand size important? Yes it is."
