The Curious Case of the Combine Arm Length
Something strange is happening with prospect measurements this year, particularly when it comes to arm length for offensive linemen. Offensive tackles face the most scrutiny when it comes to physical measurements because of their crucial role in protecting quarterbacks. NFL teams generally prefer their tackles to have an arm length of at least 34 inches, with 33 inch arms being good enough to get by. It is almost unheard of for a long-term NFL starter at tackle to have arms shorter than 33 inches long. However, multiple offensive linemen who have been measured twice during the pre-draft process have seen significant discrepancies between their numbers, larger than what has been observed in previous years. At this year’s NFL Combine, scouts were eager to get official measurements on some of the top offensive line prospects, but the results raised more questions than answers. Many of the most desired tackles came in with shorter-...