Nobody had the Cleveland Browns pegged to become the NFL’s most fascinating quarterback storyline in 2025, yet somehow, that’s exactly what has unfolded.
With a quarterback depth chart that includes a Super Bowl MVP in Joe Flacco, a polarizing former Steeler in Kenny Pickett, and two rookies-Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Deion Sanders‘ son Shedeur Sanders-this isn’t your average QB camp.
Earlier this week, the Browns posted side-by-side photos of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett mid-dropback. While Flacco looked every bit the seasoned pro-big frame, big hands-Pickett drew attention for a very different reason. In his image, his hands appeared noticeably smaller gripping the football, reigniting the oldest knock on his NFL resume.
Of course, the internet did what the internet does, as comments poured in.
“Bro out here tossing with doll hands,” one fan joked.
Another added: “Looks like he’s palming a cantaloupe.”
Let’s not forget that Pickett has long worn double gloves while throwing-something that’s been both a trademark and a target for critics. The gloves in this latest image feature a light-colored top with a darker edge that seems to blend in with the football. That combination may be creating a visual illusion, exaggerating the difference in hand size between him and Flacco.
It’s not unlike those odd photos of the Bidens visiting the Carters a few years ago, where Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter looked like miniature doll versions of themselves due to camera distortion and wide-angle lens trickery.
Technically, Kenny Pickett‘s hands measured in at 8.5 inches at the NFL Combine, which is on the smaller end for NFL QBs-but it’s not like he’s tossing the ball with chopsticks. He managed to start 24 games over two seasons in Pittsburgh before finding himself part of a rebooted quarterback group in Cleveland.
The real issue for Pickett isn’t his hands. It’s the level of competition in that Browns quarterback room.
Joe Flacco, fresh off a resurgent 2024 run that nearly earned him Comeback Player of the Year, may start the season with the edge. Rookie Dillon Gabriel, selected 94th overall, has the raw talent but may need time to develop.
And Shedeur Sanders, who shockingly slid to pick No. 144, arrives with immense expectations and the spotlight that comes with his last name.
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