Garrett Nussmeier is a quarterback from LSU who is ranked No. 86 on my NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Nussmeier’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Garrett Nussmeier’s NFL Draft Potential
Garrett Nussmeier has been, remains, and will be one of the most confounding evaluations in the 2026 NFL Draft class. A redshirt senior who eclipsed 4,000 yards passing in 2024, Nussmeier has fielded plenty of first-round buzz — both due to the 2026 NFL Draft’s relative scarcity at QB and his NFL connection as the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier — but the tape and the tangibles don’t always match that reputation.
Nussmeier will likely measure in close to 6’0″ and around 205 or 210 pounds. He’s not powerfully built, nor is he a high-level athlete. His arm is above-average but not elite, and while he has some off-script mettle with his arm elasticity and angle freedom, he’s not an overly dynamic creator. For a player with tools as limited as Nussmeier’s, the intangibles have to be rock-solid, and while Nussmeier has the hyper-elite processing to boost his game up, the other operational qualities don’t always rise to meet that mental acuity.
To be clear, Nussmeier is one of the best raw processors in the 2026 NFL Draft class — both pre-snap and post-snap. Like a true coach’s son, he can use checks at the line to clear up defensive looks and get his offense in favorable position, and he consistently has a quick answer when he’s hot. But these moments of operational brilliance are marred by confounding forced throws, poor decisions under pressure, and startling lapses in situational precision. An abdominal injury this season hasn’t helped with Nussmeier’s comfort, and has visibly affected his velocity generation and mechanical comfort.
Having said all this, when Nussmeier is healthy, he has enough arm strength to hit tight short and intermediate windows, and he’s shown he can adjust his shoulder tilt and arm angle to add loft and touch on throws. He’s a crafty play extender in spite of his middling tools — a trait that has earned him some comparisons to Tony Romo — but I liken him more to an Andy Dalton type of QB. He may never have the necessary traits or unflinching operational consistency to get his team over the hump, but he can be a respectable NFL starter at a more manageable price.
CFB Week 9 Update
Garrett Nussmeier wasn’t necessarily the reason LSU lost 49-25 to Texas A&M, but he also did nothing to elevate his team. He completed 22 of 35 attempts for a meager 168 yards and a lone touchdown, while being sacked seven times. That part of Nussmeier’s profile is becoming painfully clear: He’s not built to elevate a team week in and week out, and his operational profile is still inconsistent at times. Those two factors could ultimately relegate him to Day 2 capital at best. It’s hard to imagine that LSU’s recent shift at head coach will help matters, but Nussmeier has a chance to take more of a leadership role with the offense and finish strong heading into November.
CFB Week 10 Update
LSU was on a bye in Week 10, but the Tigers will return to action in Week 11 against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama will test LSU on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Crimson Tide boast a diverse core led by Ty Simpson, Ryan Williams, and Germie Bernard, as well as a stalwart offensive line, and on defense, Alabama is stout up front, with fast-flowing defenders at all three levels.
CFB Week 11 Update
Nussmeier was largely ineffective against Alabama, and was eventually benched in favor of backup QB Michael Van Buren Jr. Later, LSU’s interim head coach stated there “wasn’t much separation” between the two passers. Whatever early-round interest Nussmeier had entering the year, those hopes have all but extinguished with this latest development. On film, he looks like a Day 3 pick. He has the intangibles to be a quality backup QB and spot-starter, but isn’t talented enough or consistent enough with his accuracy or decision making to hold down a job long-term.
Where Is Nussmeier Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Nussmeier currently holds the No. 40 overall rank among prospects, positioning him as a Day 2 prospect. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 78.5 as of November 11 reflects that he is typically being selected on Day 2 or early Day 3.
The gap between his rank and ADP indicates that while he’s highly regarded on our board, draft simulators are seeing him slide slightly, possibly due to team needs or positional value considerations.
Users controlling the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the team that selected Nussmeier the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 1.5% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Garrett Nussmeier Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Nussmeier is currently ranked No. 86 overall in my October 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among QB prospects, Nussmeier ranks 7th at the position, trailing prospects like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, Ty Simpson. Currently ranked in the top 100, Nussmeier will look to increase their draft stock in the coming months.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.
