Jalen Milroe sees substantial increase in hand size at 2025 NFL Scouting Combine compared to Senior Bowl

Jalen Milroe received some good news regarding his hand size at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, easing some concerns that stemmed from the Senior Bowl earlier this year.

In Mobile, the former Alabama quarterback’s hands measured in at 8 6/8, which ESPN’s Matt Miller noted was notable due to being under the threshold of 9” hand size. However, when measured once again in Indianapolis on Saturday, Milroe’s hands came in at 9 3/8 — a noticeable improvement.

Hand size has become a major selling point when it comes to quarterbacks in the NFL, and the issue gained the most notoriety when Joe Burrow famously pushed back on the narrative that his smaller-sized hands would make him a bust. Of course, it hasn’t been an issue for the Cincinnati Bengals star over the course of his career.

At the least, the improvement means there’s one less thing for Milroe to worry about in the 2025 NFL Draft process. He’s one of the more polarizing prospects available, but his athleticism could see him shoot up draft boards when April rolls around.

One thing that hasn’t changed is Milroe’s mindset. He doesn’t mind the doubters or the haters, but when it comes to distinguishing himself amongst his fellow quarterbacks, the dual-threat star is fully embracing the opportunity to prove them all wrong.

During Friday morning’s media availability, Milroe revealed his pitch to interested NFL teams as he’s attempting to break into Day 1 consideration in the upcoming NFL Draft: “I’m cool with being underrated,” Milroe said Friday, according to AL.com.

“I’ve played in the hardest conference in the country, I’ve played against the No. 1 team in the country, the No. 1 defense in the country. So, if I lacked knowledge, I wouldn’t be able to win big games.”

Amid an up-and-down 2024 in his second season as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, Milroe repeatedly faced criticism from fans and media alike for perceived struggles with his in-game decision-making and properly reading defensive coverages.

Not that any of the criticism did anything to inhibit Milroe’s natural playmaking ability after racked up 36 total touchdowns — including 20 rushing scores — and 3,570 total yards in 2024. This comes after battling back from an early-season benching in 2023 to lead Alabama to the SEC Championship that season.

Time will tell what the future holds for Jalen Milroe, but the former Alabama star is looking to make his mark on the NFL. Where he ends up remains to be seen, but bet against him at your own risk.

— On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.