Few quarterbacks have more riding on Senior Bowl week than Garrett Nussmeier.
Entering the 2025 season, Nussmeier was widely viewed as a potential first-round pick. Some evaluators projected him as a top-10 selection, and a few even flirted with the idea of him emerging as QB1 in the class. Instead, the season fell well short of those expectations.
The tools are still there. With additional time to get fully healthy and a controlled environment surrounded by NFL coaching, this week gives Nussmeier a chance to remind evaluators why his name carried first-round buzz not long ago.
Garrett Nussmeier Scouting Report
After finishing No. 12 nationally in PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric in 2024, Nussmeier dropped to a 75.9 mark in 2025, ranking No. 110 in the country. The regression was stark, forcing a reset in the league’s current view of his long-term projection. Now, with the 2026 quarterback class still unsettled, the Senior Bowl represents a critical opportunity for Nussmeier to regain traction in the QB race.
Despite the step back in 2025, Nussmeier still checks in as QB3 on the PFSN Consensus Big Board. That placement is aided by a weaker overall quarterback class and the positional value that inevitably pushes passers up draft boards, but it also reflects that teams have not fully abandoned belief in his profile.
At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Nussmeier’s size is a legitimate concern. Durability issues surfaced throughout the season, contributing to his inconsistency. His arm talent is solid but not elite, and while he can create off-script and throw from different platforms with varied arm angles, he is not a dynamic, high-end creator who can live outside structure.
Where Nussmeier separates himself is between the ears. His processing speed is elite, and when the picture is clean, he can dissect defenses with timing and anticipation. The issue is that for a quarterback without standout physical tools, operational execution has to be nearly flawless, and in 2025, it was not.
At times, Nussmeier played with a level of confidence in his arm that did not always align with his actual arm strength. Confidence is essential at quarterback, but it has to be calibrated. Too often, his worst plays came from an “I can make this work” mindset, forcing throws that simply were not there. The gunslinger mentality needs refinement, not removal.
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There are shades of Baker Mayfield in his game, particularly in that fearless approach, though without the same athletic shiftiness. Mayfield was more polished coming out, which is why he went No. 1 overall, and Nussmeier will not, but the comparison helps explain why many viewed the LSU quarterback through a similar lens entering the season.
Inside structure, however, Nussmeier is impressive. He operates the offense as designed and shows clear command at the line of scrimmage. He consistently identifies blitzers, diagnoses defensive alignments, and adjusts protections and routes pre-snap.
Few quarterbacks on tape are as vocal or proactive before the snap, and that level of control will resonate in the NFL. Some may label him a “game manager,” but there is nothing negative about that. One of Caleb Williams’ biggest weaknesses was playing too often out of structure, which can break down an offense operationally.
If Nussmeier can add just a bit more creativity outside of structure while getting his body right, he could end up being one of the steals of the draft when it is all said and done.
Senior Bowl Outlook
A strong Senior Bowl week could reestablish confidence in Nussmeier’s projection as a starter-capable quarterback at the next level. Right now, his grade sits firmly in the Day 2 range, Rounds 2 to 3, but his stock is volatile. He has as much upward mobility as any quarterback in this class.
If Nussmeier shows more of his 2024 form, playing with a steadier, safer mindset while maintaining his natural aggressiveness, he can climb quickly in a quarterback group that still lacks clear answers. With so many NFL franchises searching for stability under center, the door is wide open for someone to separate.
He also needs to show functional mobility. Nussmeier does not need to become a true dual-threat, but improved pocket movement is critical. Interior pressure disrupted him too often on tape, and demonstrating the ability to slide, reset, and create subtly within the pocket would go a long way toward easing concerns. Any flashes of controlled playmaking outside structure will only help.
Every draft cycle produces risers and fallers, and this setting often accelerates that movement. For Nussmeier, the path is clear. If he can highlight the traits that made him a coveted prospect — processing, command, and rhythm passing — while minimizing the risky decisions that plagued his 2025 tape, he can seize the moment. If not, he risks fading into the background as other quarterbacks take advantage of the spotlight.
This week is about redemption, and whether Nussmeier is ready to reclaim his place in the 2026 quarterback conversation.
