Once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick, the LSU quarterback fell to the seventh round after an injury-plagued final season and joins Kansas City as a developmental arm.
Garrett Nussmeier's draft stock told two different stories a year apart. Coming off a huge 2024 season at LSU, he was mentioned in early first-round mock drafts. A nagging abdominal injury and diminished 2025 numbers sent him tumbling all the way to Kansas City in the seventh round.
Path to the league
Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL and college coach Doug Nussmeier, and he grew up moving across eight states and Canada. He starred at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, before committing to LSU, where he developed behind Jayden Daniels before taking over as the full-time starter in 2024. The Chiefs picked him in the seventh round, No. 249 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Nussmeier's breakout came in 2024, when he threw for 4,043 yards with 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions across 13 starts and was named MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl after throwing for 395 yards and three scores. That season pushed him into early Heisman and first-round draft conversations heading into his final year at LSU.
2025 season recap
Nussmeier's senior season was disrupted by an abdominal injury that a deeper NFL combine evaluation later traced to a cyst pressing on a nerve. He started 9 of LSU's games, throwing for 1,927 yards with 12 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and was briefly benched in favor of Michael Van Buren Jr. during the stretch run. He still led LSU past ranked Clemson and Florida teams before the injury limited his availability down the stretch.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Garrett Nussmeier
- Yahoo Sports: 2026 NFL Draft: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier selected by Chiefs in 7th round
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- LSU
- Hometown
- Lake Charles, LA, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
