CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns general manager John Dorsey didn't hesitate when asked what he's looking for in an AFC North quarterback.

"You all laugh at me when I say it, but I think hand size is important,'' he said during his predraft press conference Thursday. "With that being said, hand size in November and December, when it's snowing, raining, it's getting muddy. We all know the elements in Cleveland are going to play a role.''

If hand size were the sole criteria, Josh Allen would be the Browns' new franchise quarterback come Thursday night at 8 p.m. His hand measured 10 1/8 -- the only 10-plus mark among the top QBs at the NFL combine.

Dorsey referenced Sam Darnold, who fumbled the ball 21 times in 24 starts at USC. His hand measured 9 3/8, which Browns coach Hue Jackson said at the combine was sufficient.

"You worry about that sometimes,'' said Dorsey. "So hand size (is important).''

But was this a smokescreen? An attempt to throw teams off the Darnold scent? He went on to say that Darnold's fumbling isn't hard to fix.

"I don't think it is,'' said Dorsey. "(But) I think you have to sit and evaluate how he handles the ball, what are the cause of those fumbles? Evaluate that on a case-by-case basis."

Baker Mayfield's hand came in at 9 1/4 and Josh Rosen 9 7/8.

It should be noted that the two QBs Mayfield is most often compared to because of they're all around 6-foot -- Drew Brees and Russell Wilson -- both have unusually large hands for their size. Both measured at 10 1/4 at the combine. Brett Favre -- who was also on the shorter side at 6-2 -- has 10-inch-plus hands.

One NFL talent evaluator told cleveland.com it's possible the shorter QBs may have been able to overcome their height challenge because of the larger hands.

Of course, hand size isn't everything, and Dorsey rattled off more criteria for his QB when asked if Allen's accuracy or Darnold's turnovers are a bigger deal to the staff.

"Seriously, that sounds like a trick question,'' he said. "We're not doing a trick question here. The only thing I really care about is do guys win? Does he have accuracy? Does he have a strong arm? Can he throw the ball in the red zone in tight windows? Can he drive the ball? At the end of the game, does he win? That's what I look for."

All four of the top quarterbacks fit Dorsey's profile to a certain degree, which makes it difficult to know where he's going.

Mayfield's a winner (33-6 at Oklahoma), accurate, has a strong arm, can throw it into tight windows and teammates gravitate to him. But his hands aren't big, his height is a concern to some and he has maturity issues, although Dorsey believes that's media-driven.

Darnold is accurate, has a strong arm, can fit into tight windows in the red zone and has the "it'' factor to pull out games. But his fumbles and interceptions (22 in 24 starts) are a problem.

Rosen is believed by many to be the most pro-ready of the bunch, with a strong arm, accuracy and excellent processing speed. But he's had several concussions, and is so cerebral that not everyone gets him. His former UCLA coach Jim Mora has said being with the Giants or Jets in New York would challenge him more intellectually.

Allen has great size, good mobility, a cannon arm, the big hands, great leadership and face-of-the-franchise ability. But he completed only 56.2 of his passes at Wyoming, and that scares some people off.

Multiple reports say Dorsey will draft Allen, including one by SI's Peter King, who cited "Friend of Dorsey."

"First off, who is friend of Dorsey?'' Dorsey said. "Second of all, I'm going to tell y'all, I go black at this time of year. For a month, I don't listen to radio, I don't watch TV and I don't pick up the newspaper.''

Dorsey planned to meet with the offensive staff on Friday afternoon, and Jackson said some staffers will state their case and try to win their "why.'' By the end of the weekend, they'll have a better idea of who they want at No. 1.

But with interest in both the No. 1 and No. 4 picks, don't expect Dorsey to show his hand until it's time to turn in the card on Thursday night.