Imagine an NFL without Joe Burrow.
If certain measurements were to be the be-all end-all of predicting success, the 2020 no.1 overall pick would probably be out of the league by now.
An asinine statement and laughable thought, but the type of lunacy and discourse that ascends upon Indianapolis and the NFL world around this time of year.
That’s because the scouting combine is about to get underway, which means it’s also time to look back on hilariously wrong predictions and observations.
It’s easy to dunk on those with hindsight, it’s 20/20 after all, but in the moment it’s almost impossible to project a player’s future in the National Football League.
A scout’s job is hard no doubt, but sometimes it’s easy to overthink certain things.
And players.
Burrow for example.
The Cincinnati Bengals franchise quarterback’s hand size was measured at 9 inches at the 2020 NFL combine.
According to ESPN, that was tied for the smallest among first-round quarterbacks measured at the combine since 2008.
Burrow was mentioned in the same breath as Ryan Tannehill and Jared Goff.
Again, a laughable thought (no offense to Tannehill and Goff).
After the measurements were reported, Burrow had some fun with it, at his own expense.
“Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands,” Burrow jokingly posted online in February 2020.
“Please keep me in your thoughts.”
Criticizing one of the best quarterback prospects of the last decade because his hands were ‘undersized’ was always a fool’s errand, but it’s exactly the type of conversations that will be had on the 2025 draft class over the next ten days.
They will be poked and prodded every which way, be asked ridiculous questions and picked apart between now and the draft.
That’s just how it goes.
At the end of the day, the draft is a crapshoot.
As for the guy with tiny 9-inch hands, he just finished leading the entire league in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43).
He’s made two conference championship games and one Super Bowl.
Not bad for a guy who can barely grip the football.