The NFL combine is going on this week, which means teams get several days to examine football players and poke and prod them until they are satisfied. It also means that the focus shifts from what really matters — how the players perform on the field during game settings — to how they perform on the “measurables.”
So far, there are two things that have come up as physical concerns regarding potential top overall pick Jameis Winston.
As Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian said on ESPN, the size of Jameis’ hands as well as his weight are issues for teams.
“The size of Jameis’ hands are a little bit of a concern,” Polian said on ESPN Thursday. Winston’s hand size is 9 3/8 inches, which is “not great, below the norm,” in Polian’s view. “9.5 is the norm, 10 is ideal.”
Another issue Polian discussed is Winston’s weight. Winston lost 17 pounds while preparing for the combine so he could report at a reasonable weight.
“The weight on Jameis is an issue because he’s lost 17 pounds, which would indicate that he’s got a weight issue,” said Polian. “You have to manage that. That will be a concern for the teams … they’re going to want to work through that with their dietitians, with their strength coaches … this is something that you have to follow-up on. They’re going to measure his body fat and then give him a weight. The big key is what do the clubs want him at.”
Winston reportedly weighed in the mid-250s when he played a playoff game at Florida State, so we know he can be successful at a higher weight. But is that his ideal playing weight? Most teams probably will feel that it is not.
And even though these are considered “issues,” I highly doubt either one would keep the Bucs from making him the top pick if they feel like he is the best quarterback in the draft. The more serious concern regarding Winston is his character and whether you feel like he can be a good franchise leader despite all his off-field controversies.
