Could Browns pass on Jalen Milroe after concerning Senior Bowl revelation?

Earlier this month, a Cleveland Browns team that is essentially expected to start from scratch this offseason regarding its quarterback situation was linked with Alabama's Jalen Milroe, in part because Milroe had new Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as his OC during the 2023 college season. 

However, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand suggested Cleveland and other clubs could have second thoughts about spending a noteworthy draft asset to land Milroe after the signal-caller was measured at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Monday. 

"Milroe’s right hand, measured from the tip of thumb to the tip of pinky, came in at 8 ¾ inches. That’s well below the 9 ½ in. threshold that is considered average," Grossi explained. ..."'It does matter,' texted a former NFL team personnel executive. 'Fumbles, struggles in cold/wet weather, etc. Guys like Josh Allen and [Patrick] Mahomes can grab that ball like a vice-grip wrapping their hand around it.'"

John Mitchell of Bama Hammer noted that Milroe lost six fumbles in 13 games during this past college season. That stat, coupled with Milroe's hand size, could concern Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, considering Cleveland will play late fall and early winter home games outdoors on the shoreline of Lake Erie through at least the next handful of seasons.

Some may remember how quarterback Kenny Pickett worked to change his hand measurement from 8 1/2 inches at the 2022 scouting combine to 8 5/8 inches. While the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately selected Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft, they gave up on him after just two seasons and traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles last March. 

The Browns hold the second overall pick of the upcoming draft and could use that choice to grab either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. In a mock draft posted on Tuesday morning, Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic predicted that the Browns would pass on both Ward and Sanders to instead take cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter of Colorado. Baumgardner and Dochterman had the Tennessee Titans taking Milroe with overall pick No. 35 and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart going to the New York Jets via selection No. 42.