Why the Chiefs viewed Garrett Nussmeier as a seventh-round gamble worth taking
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Chiefs selected LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with the 249th pick in 2026.
- Nussmeier missed games in 2025 with nagging torso & abdominal injuries, hurting his stats.
- Kansas City views Nussmeier as a developmental, cost-controlled third quarterback option.
While the prevailing theme for the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2026 NFL Draft was infusing the defense with starting-caliber talent, their final seventh-round selection shouldn’t be overlooked.
With the 249th overall pick this past Saturday, the Chiefs selected LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier — the first quarterback they’ve drafted in the Patrick Mahomes era (since he was drafted in 2017).
The 24-year-old Nussmeier is the son of former NFL quarterback Doug Nussmeier, who is now the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator.
Why did grabbing Nussmeier make sense for the Chiefs? Let’s dig in.
Peaks and valleys
After waiting for two seasons behind eventual Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Nussmeier earned the starting role for LSU as a redshirt junior for the 2024 season.
That year, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound quarterback completed 337 of 525 passes for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was the Texas Bowl MVP in LSU’s 44–31 victory over Baylor after throwing for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns.
A finalist for the Manning Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback, Nussmeier was widely considered to be a first-round pick in 2025, had he decided to enter the NFL Draft. Instead, he opted to stay at LSU as a Heisman candidate ... and his production fell off.
What followed was a redshirt-senior season “cut short due to nagging torso and abdominal injuries,” as described by LSU football. Nussmeier played in four fewer games this past fall, finishing with more than 2,000 fewer yards and 15 fewer touchdowns.
“I went through a lot,” Nussmeier said Saturday via a Zoom call with KC media. “As you guys have learned about me, I’m a big believer in my faith, and my faith is my foundation.
“That is who I am. And so, having that foundation in Christ, that’s how I got through all the stuff that I went through this year. That’s how I still am the same guy I was before it and actually better off because of it.”
The Chiefs appreciated the discount, making Nussmeier the 10th quarterback off the board — just as he and his agent were fielding calls regarding potential destinations as an undrafted free agent.
Joining the Chiefs
The seventh round presented the perfect window for the Chiefs to make a play for a low-risk, high-reward quarterback with Nussmeier’s background — even after trading for a backup (Justin Fields) this offseason.
Kansas City has been vocal about its confidence in Fields should Mahomes miss time as he works his way back from his torn ACL and LCL. But still, everybody — including a veteran backup like Fields — can use healthy competition.
Fields should get that in Nussmeier, who will arrive with built-in arm talent and a pedigree of leadership. LSU made Nussmeier a permanent team captain ahead of the 2025 season, and he was issued No. 18 — a number presented to the player who best represents LSU football in all areas.
Nussmeier was MVP of this year’s Senior Bowl after going 5 of 8 for 57 yards. He added a rushing touchdown after pulling the ball on an RPO and also scored a two-point conversion.
“Garrett is a unique case here,” Chiefs vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt said Monday. “(In) 2024, he finished his last three games with Ws and he ended up throwing for over 4,000 yards in 2024 with I think it was 29 touchdowns.
“There (was) a ton of buzz on him coming into this year. For whatever reason, he didn’t have a great season.”
Nutt confirmed the Chiefs’ medical staff was “fine” with its evaluation of Nussmeier.
“We’re excited to have this kid,” Nutt said. “He’s going to be a developmental guy for us. We’re excited about Justin Fields, obviously. We brought him in. But this is something we haven’t done, and we’ve talked about for a while now, is getting a quarterback late and developing him. Garrett gives us that opportunity.”
Working the salary cap
Especially in today’s NFL landscape, it’s wise to create extra salary cap space wherever you can get it. Take the recently active trade deadlines, when a little extra room might make all the difference.
With Nussmeier, the Chiefs raise their ceiling at the No. 3 quarterback position, as he should be favored to win that job over Jake Haener and Chris Oladokun. And though Fields should be the backup for 2026, he’s due to hit free agency in 2027.
Spotrac expects Nussmeier to sign a four-year contract worth $4.36 million. That’s three seasons as a cost-controlled backup to Mahomes with a cap hit near or around $1 million.
Around the league, premium backups typically carry cap hits in the $5 million-$8 million range. The Denver Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham ($8 million), the Washington Commanders’ Marcus Mariota ($7.3 million) and the Arizona Cardinals’ Gardner Minshew ($5.7 million) are all prime examples.
That’s valuable cap space that can be devoted elsewhere as you work to complete the puzzle.
If all goes to plan, and Nussmeier shows in future preseasons that he has outgrown his backup position, he could be a trade piece for a quarterback-needy franchise.
Perhaps almost as much as winning games, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid most relishes the on-field teaching aspects of his job. In Nussmeier, Reid takes on a project QB with starting experience in the SEC, big-game production and captain’s-level makeup.
Oh — and a built-in chip on his shoulder.
“It was difficult for me sitting there and not understanding why,” Nussmeier said. “I have a belief in myself and where I believe that I should have been valued, and at the end of the day, I’m just grateful for this opportunity.
“I said throughout this entire process, it’s not when, it’s where, and I couldn’t be more blessed to go to such a great team, such a great organization.”
