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How Tall/Big is Patrick Mahomes?

For all of Patrick Mahomes incredible feats on the field, his height and weight are remarkably average for the position. Mahomes was measured at 6’2” at the NFL combine and weighed 225 pounds. [1]

This is almost the exact average for NFL quarterbacks who on average are 6’3” and 225 pounds. [2]

Having a taller quarterback has some obvious advantages like being better able to see over tall offensive linemen and spot receivers running open down the field. But big, strong quarterbacks do not guarantee success and other factors such as hand size can play just as big a role.

Key Takeaways

  • At 6’2” and 225 pounds, Mahomes has average height and weight for an NFL quarterback.
  • Even when compared with other top-end quarterbacks, Mahomes is again around average height and weight.
  • A taller and heavier profile can help a quarterback, but it doesn’t necessarily ensure a healthier career.

How Patrick Mahomes Compares to Other Starting Quarterbacks

Looking at the NFL average for quarterback height is useful. But there’s a big difference between comparing a player of Mahomes caliber to a backup or journeyman quarterback. I think we can all agree that Mahomes belongs in the top echelon of quarterbacks, so how does he compare to his peers from a height and weight standpoint?

  • Justin Herbert: 6’6” 236 lbs
  • Josh Allen: 6’5” 237 lbs
  • Joe Burrow: 6’4” 216 lbs
  • Geno Smith: 6’3” 220 lbs
  • Aaron Rodgers: 6’2” 225 lbs
  • Lamar Jackson: 6’2” 230 lbs
  • Dak Prescott: 6’2” 229 lbs
  • Tua Tagovailoa: 6’1” 216 lbs
  • Jalen Hurts: 6’1” 223 lbs
  • Kyler Murray: 5’10” 207 lbs
Source: Reddit

Read more: WHO IS THE TALLEST QUARTERBACK IN THE NFL?

I know, it’s weird to see Geno Smith on this list, but he’s having a heck of a season for the Seahawks in 2022. Taking the average of these other ten quarterbacks, we get an average of 6’2” and 224 pounds. Once again we’re almost dead on the NFL average for the position! Maybe height and weight really don’t matter as long as you hit a certain height threshold. The shortest listed quarterbacks in NFL history are 5’9” with current starters Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson measuring 5’10.” These players can obviously have success, but it does take a little creativity to open up passing windows.

But while the average between these ten quarterbacks and the rest of the NFL is in line, we still see quite a bit of variability on this list. There’s Justin Herbert who’s built like an NBA forward all the way down to Kyler Murray listed at eight inches shorter and outweighed by 29 pounds. 

It’s not a symptom of quarterback style either. Most NFL quarterbacks today can tuck the ball and run, and there are not as many Peyton Manning “pocket passers” around in this era. But there are quarterbacks that run more than others with designed runs being an elemental part of their teams’ offense. 

We see the full physical spectrum of these players. It should be noted that some quarterbacks like Dak Prescott used to run more, but a bad leg injury has converted him to more of a pocket passer. 

As a runner, I wouldn’t consider Mahomes on the level of Hurts or Jackson, or Murray. But there’s no denying he’s mobile and more than capable of making plays with his legs.

It doesn’t matter who’s chasing him, he always seems to be just a step quicker whether it’s a lineman or cornerback. 

Read more: WHO IS THE FASTEST PLAYER IN THE NFL? (2022 SEASON & MORE)

Perhaps His Hand Size?

While a quarterback’s height can allow for some projection of how their career will end up, a more subtle physical trait that teams will look at is a prospect’s hand size. This is measured from the end of the thumb to the end of the pinky when the hand is stretched as far as possible. [3]

Read more: WHAT IS TOM BRADY’S HAND SIZE? AND WHY IT DOESN’T MATTER

The idea is that quarterbacks with bigger hands will be able to keep a better grip on the ball when tackled and in cold or wet weather. Like a player’s height, 40-yard dash time, and other physical measurements, hand size is usually measured at the NFL Combine.

While the average male hand is about 7.6,” NFL quarterbacks usually have much larger hands, generally between 9 and 10 inches. Mahomes measures on the low side with 9.25” hands, a measurement that led to some concern about his viability at the NFL level. And while some analysts believe that hand size matters less than it did in decades past, the numbers say there is still some benefit to having larger hands. 

(playerprofiler.com)

Kenny Pickett of the Steelers was drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft despite much consternation about the size of his 8.5” hands. This doesn’t doom Pickett to a career of mediocrity. After all, former Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick also had 8.5” hands, and that number still allows Pickett to grip between 40 and 50 percent of the football which is considered the baseline.

But his room for error is much smaller. Having just slightly bigger hands may not have just helped Mahomes get selected in the first round, but may also be playing a role in his success up to this point. Perhaps some funky hand stretching exercises helped him out.

References

  1. https://www.nfl.com/players/patrick-mahomes/
  2. https://webpages.uidaho.edu/~renaes/251/HON/Student%20PPTs/Avg%20NFL%20ht%20wt.pdf
  3. https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/Quarterbacks-With-the-Most-Impressive-Hand-Sizes-in-NFL-History#:~:text=How%20Is%20Hand%20Size%20Measured,of%2011%20inches%20or%20wider.
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