03-31-2024, 09:35 PM
(03-31-2024, 07:58 PM)Whatever Wrote: 32-1/2" is considered the threshold. You will obviously find guys with shorter arms who can do the job, but they're exceptions, not rules.
A lot of folks bring up Humphrey, but KC was plagued with low shotgun snaps in the AFCCG and SB, which is a problem common to short armed C's, especially when dealing with tough assignments and having to rush the snap. In fact, KC had a chance to win the SB in regulation, but Humphrey put the snap into the dirt and luckily Mahomes managed to recover it and throw it out the back of the end zone to preserve enough time for the FG to tie it.
It might be considered a goal or target length but under 32 1/2" is not the exception. Going into last year 17 of the starting centers in the NFL had under 32 1/2" arms compared to 11 who had over.
I know some don't agree with PFF but if you go off of their center rankings, 4 of the top 10 centers had under, 3 had exactly 32 1/2 arms and 3 had over (and this is with listing Kerras at 32 1/2" as he has conflicting info.) Conversely 6 of the bottom 10 centers had over 32 1/2 arms vs 4 under. The number of starting (and good centers) with under 32 1/2" arms is only going to increase after this draft with 3 of the top prospects, JPJ, Zach Frazier and Sedrick Van Pran all having under 32 1/2" arms.
Also one of the best Bengal centers in more recent Bengals history, Rich Braham had under 32 1/2" arms. Nothing about JPJs arm length would prevent me from selecting him in Round 1.
