2018 NFL Draft: Sam Darnold facing concerns about hand size
Sam Darnold is widely regarded as a lock to come off the board in the top 10 of the 2018 NFL Draft, but some are concerned about the size of his hands.
USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold may have the most stable draft stock of any quarterback in his class. There are admittedly areas of concern, but the general consensus is that Darnold is a lock to come off the board in the Top 10 of the 2018 NFL Draft.
If there’s one issue that could push Darnold out of contention for the No. 1 overall selection, however, it’s the size of his hands.
Darnold was a star in college, but turnovers were a consistent issue for the 20-year-old field general. A player can learn to be more patient and poised, but the knock against the Trojans standout is that he may have a physical limitation that impacts his game.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, the main concern with Darnold is that his hand size could negatively impact his play in the NFL.
"“There’s a couple of plays where the ball slips out of his hands,” an NFC scout said, “but considering how far he drops it in that motion, he would lose it if (his hands) weren’t big enough.”"
Turnovers were a significant issue for Darnold during his two seasons with the USC Trojans, and scouts are mindful of that reality.
Darnold accumulated 57 touchdowns to 22 interceptions during his 27 collegiate games, throwing 20 interceptions over his final 20 appearances. He only threw four interceptions during his final eight appearances, but his early season woes have surfaced as a cause for concern.
Thankfully, Darnold can fix that flaw by improving his already solid ability to read coverages and go through his progressions.
The issue that scouts fear he can’t correct, however, is his tendency to fumble the ball when taking contact.
Darnold committed 21 fumbles in two seasons, which some feel is a direct result of his hand size. He has an elongated throwing motion that puts the ball in danger, but the possibility also exists that his turnover issues are a result of his inability to tightly grip the ball with one hand.
Thankfully, Darnold will have a chance to address this concern and solidify his place as one of the top prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft at the Scouting Combine.
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If he posts ideal measurements, there won’t be much standing between Sam Darnold and the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.