Garrett Nussmeier gave Kansas City Chiefs fans a clear look at what the organization drafted when it selected him 249th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. The rookie quarterback connected on a throw on the run against the Los Angeles Rams in a preseason game broadcast on NFL Network.
Nussmeier arrives in Kansas City as a two-year starter at LSU who threw for more than 6,000 yards with 45 touchdowns across his college career. He comes in fully aware of his role—the Chiefs have him embracing backup duties at training camp, a situation the franchise views as an ideal landing spot for the late-round pick.
The throw against the Rams illustrated the traits that drew NFL attention despite his draft position. On film, Nussmeier shows genuine arm velocity—he can whip the ball with a fast release, particularly on designed throws to his first read. His ability to extend plays and deliver accurately while moving is among his clearest strengths.
His 2024 season at LSU was his most complete. He led the Tigers to a 9-4 record and threw for over 4,000 yards with 29 touchdowns as the full-time starter. That season established him as a legitimate draft prospect with production at a high-profile program.
The 2025 season told a different story. Nussmeier threw roughly half the number of attempts he had in 2024 and finished with just 12 touchdown passes. An abdominal and oblique injury limited him for the majority of that year, dragging down his numbers and raising medical questions heading into the draft process.
Nussmeier answered those questions in part at the Senior Bowl. He earned MVP honors there after leading two scoring drives, rebuilding momentum with scouts and coaches who had watched his production decline. That performance mattered—it gave evaluators a clean, healthy look at the quarterback under competitive conditions after an injury-shortened college finish.
His physical profile is a known concern at the NFL level. Nussmeier weighed in around 203 pounds, and durability questions come with that frame when facing NFL-caliber pass rushers. Taking unnecessary hits and putting himself in avoidable situations is a noted tendency in his game, which compounds the size issue.
Mechanical questions follow him into the pros as well. His pocket movement can be sloppy, his defense reading grades out as average, and he forces throws into tight windows when a checkdown is the smarter play. Those tendencies are common in young quarterbacks, but they tend to get exposed faster at the professional level.
The Chiefs situation suits him precisely because he does not need to solve those problems immediately. Sitting behind an established starter gives Nussmeier time to refine his pocket discipline and decision-making without the pressure of a starting role. Kansas City's offensive structure, built around precise timing and quick decisions, is the kind of system where a quick-tempo quarterback with accuracy in the short-to-intermediate area can develop the right habits.
Nussmeier came out of Marcus High School as a four-star recruit before committing to LSU for the 2021 season. He redshirted his freshman year and spent his first three seasons learning behind Max Johnson and then Jayden Daniels before taking over as the full-time starter. That developmental path means he carries real experience and leadership despite arriving in the NFL as a late-round pick.
The preseason throw against the Rams is one data point, not a verdict. The arm talent and the mobility are real—those showed up on film at LSU in 2024 and they showed up again in Kansas City. Whether the frame holds up, whether the decision-making sharpens, and whether the pocket discipline improves are the open questions that will define his NFL path. For now, the Chiefs have a developmental quarterback with genuine tools sitting in a good spot to grow.
