Size matters in the NFL.
Height,arm length, wingspan, hand size and more headline the list of measurements taken ahead of the NFL draft. In some cases, being average isn't good enough and, in fact, it might be enough to send a prospect tumbling down the board.
While arm length is having a moment, height is still a key factor for teams looking to draft a quarterback.
More:Why the NFL world is up in arms over draft prospects' arm length
Being on the shorter side might make it hard to reach the top shelf at the grocery store or make certain cabinets in the kitchen useless, but those are easily fixed with a stool – something quarterbacks don't have the luxury of using during a game.
Look no further than Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. While he starred on Saturdays for the Commodores, his ability to play on Sundays could come down to a measuring stick.
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Pavia will hope to hear his name called at the2026 NFL Draftin April, but his potential entrance into the NFL would also come with admission into an exclusive club. Here's a look at the shortest quarterbacks in NFL history.
7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Makai Lemon, WR, USC" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
11. Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
12. Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
16. New York Jets – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
17. Detroit Lions – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
19. Carolina Panthers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
26. Buffalo Bills – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
29. Los Angeles Rams – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
30. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
32. Seattle Seahawks – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine
Shortest QBs in NFL history
Pard Pearce is the shortest quarterback in NFL history, standing at 5-5. He was the quarterback for the Decatur Staleys, now known as theChicago Bears, from 1920 to 1922. Davey O'Brien, who played for thePhiladelphia Eaglesin 1939-1940, measured 5-7. He is also the smallest player to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
The honor of being the shortest quarterback in NFL history is often attributed to Eddie LaBaron, who was listed at 5-9 and played 11 seasons with Washington and the Dallas Cowboys from 1952 to 1963.
That list has gotten significantly smaller since the NFL merger – with 5-10 being the shortest height of any quarterback to play a game. Only four players have achieved that feat – Doug Flutie, Joe Hamilton, Kyler Murray and Bryce Young.
Interestingly, all four of them are the same height and two of them, Murray and Young, are active quarterbacks. Perhaps it's a sign that the league cares less about height than it used to, but the odds still aren't in favor of the vertically challenged when it comes to playing quarterback in the NFL.
How tall is Diego Pavia?
Pavia was officially listed by Vanderbilt at 6-0, butmeasurements at the Senior Bowlput the Vanderbilt quarterback at about 5-9 7/8 inches.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Shortest QBs in NFL history: Where Diego Pavia would rank