With so many strong quarterback prospects headlining the 2026 NFL Draft, teams may very well pick their flavor, rather than relying on the consensus. Some will be enamored by Arch Manning, others by LaNorris Sellers. Fernando Mendoza is a big-game hunter, Cade Klubnik is a Heisman favorite, and Drew Allar's tools almost made him a top pick in 2025.
However, no quarterback in college football is as pro-ready as LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. The redshirt senior has plenty of reps under his belt, a nuanced feel for his offense, and a blend of traits that can already play on Sundays.
That makes Nussmeier's stock a matter of upside. Can he shake the game manager moniker, and can he contend with the titans atop the NFL?
Nussmeier is incredibly polished
The steadiness of Nussmeier's game stands out in the chaotic landscape of college football. He does an excellent job of managing the pocket to limit sacks, and while he led the SEC with 12 interceptions, I have minimal concerns about the frequency of his turnovers at the next level.
Likewise, Nussmeier is incredibly comfortable within structure. His timing is strong and, inside the pocket, his accuracy to the short and intermediate parts of the field checks the box. He has enough velocity to attack the boundary and pull off tight-window throws over the middle of the field.
It's worth noting that at 6'1", 200 pounds, Nussmeier is one of the smallest quarterbacks in this class. While it limits his vision over the middle of the field, the Tigers signal caller does a good job of mitigating its hindrance with anticipatory throws. Nussmeier quickly takes advantage of leverage against man coverage, is happy to get to his checkdown, and keeps his eyes downfield in muddy pockets.
Nussmeier's tools aren't elite. Among NFL starters, they might not be average. But Nussmeier has the same trait that has helped San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy find success. His ability to make plays out of structure exceeds his physical tools and gives him a path to upside.
Nussmeier's mechanics are consistent and remain adequate on the move, and his blend of processing and pocket presence will earn him the trust of a coaching staff. He won't be everyone's pick to go 1.01, but a handful of teams are bound to have him as their favorite quarterback.
Is Nussmeier limited?
Nussmeier doesn't have an overly strong arm, and I'm not high on his athleticism. It puts a real cap on his ceiling and, for some, will disqualify him from QB1 talks in an era of football dominated by demigods.
However, Nussmeier has enough to compete on Sundays. Checking the box the prerequisite for finding success, and while his raw talent is the worst part of his profile, it isn't a liability that scares me off of the early-round hype.
Despite his proficient processing, Nussmeier's height might cause him some problems. Russell Wilson has never loved the middle of the field, and Kyler Murray is yet to consistently find success there. For the Tigers quarterback, it shows up most in the red zone, where there's even more traffic between the numbers. It's a flaw that follows a lot of smaller quarterbacks, although Nussmeier has the skill set to challenge that norm.
I'm not quite as high on Nussmeier's deep ball, either, offering a subtle blow to his upside. He can make any throw reasonably asked of him, but lesser tools mean slimmer margins and a greater reliance on his intangibles, which are inherently harder to identify.
Nussmeier's NFL projection
LSU watched Joe Burrow take over the sport in his final collegiate season, leading an offense filled with NFL-level talents to a national title. That's a high bar, perhaps impossible for Nussmeier to clear, but he is poised to have one of the most productive seasons in college football.
That starts in Week 1 against Clemson, where he'll duel with Klubnik as they jostle for positioning in April.
Nussmeier has offensive continuity and experience on his side. LSU has a handful of Sunday players surrounding him, and an SEC schedule offers plenty of high-profile opponents for the Tigers to show off their passing game. With a playoff berth and a championship push, Nussmeier could find himself perpetually in the spotlight.
He'll enter the season as my QB3. He safely projects as a starter, but with limited paths to taking over games, Nussmeier will land closer to the back end of Round 1 than the No. 1 pick on my board. Given the importance of consistency under center and his scheme-diverse profile, it's hard to blame teams for falling in love.
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