Garrett Nussmeier fell to the 7th round, but the Kansas City Chiefs still added LSU’s passer depth, betting on recovery and fit behind Mahomes and Fields.
Garrett Nussmeier’s 2026 NFL Draft story didn’t follow the expected script—at least not at first. After a notable slide, he landed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the late rounds.
Chiefs land Nussmeier with 7th-round pick
Kansas City selected LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with the No.. 249 pick during Round 7 in Pittsburgh, bringing in one of the last remaining quarterbacks on the 2026 board.. The move sparked immediate debate among fans because Nussmeier wasn’t projected to be available this late. making the slide a central part of the reaction.
In the context of a draft that often hinges on timing. Nussmeier’s fall reshaped his path into the NFL—turning what looked like a mid-draft opportunity into a depth-chart gamble with upside.. For a franchise like the Chiefs. that gamble is less about instant impact and more about what can be built behind the starters.
What made his draft slide possible
Misryoum understands that quarterback evaluations don’t happen in a vacuum. and Nussmeier’s stock appears to have been hit by factors that go beyond raw production.. During his LSU career, he flashed high-level passing production but also carried interception totals that stood out.. In 2024, he ranked fifth in FBS with over 4,000 passing yards, yet threw an SEC-high 12 interceptions.
By 2025, the picture started to tilt in a better direction—he posted a 12-to-two touchdown-to-interception trend.. Still, durability and availability became part of the narrative.. He played in nine games while battling an injury that stretched across the season after it began during fall training camp.
That matters for NFL teams because quarterback development is never just about talent; it’s about reps.. If teams believe mechanics. timing. or decision-making are being affected by injury limitations. the clock becomes slower—even for prospects with obvious arm talent.. Nussmeier’s own comments during the offseason reflected that emphasis on refinement: he said he was “at 100 percent” and was working to retrain himself from “bad habits” formed while trying to throw through the injury.
A fit the Chiefs can work with
The Chiefs’ interest. as discussed in draft scouting terms. lines up with how Kansas City tends to identify quarterbacks who can contribute to a system quickly.. One evaluation described Nussmeier as “pro-ready. ” with a natural throwing motion and a style compared to a pass-first point guard—an analogy that points toward quick reads and rhythmic decision-making rather than purely improvisational volatility.
The same scouting framing also emphasized system fit, particularly for offenses that lean into quick passing concepts.. In practice, that matters for how a quarterback learns play calls, processes route combinations, and coordinates timing with receivers.. A West Coast-style approach typically rewards that kind of structured pace.
For Misryoum. the key takeaway is simple: even if a quarterback’s draft position changes. teams can still see a usable skill set—especially when they believe the risk profile is manageable.. Late-round selections can function like controlled experiments. and Kansas City has often been comfortable taking them when they believe the developmental runway is there.
Behind Mahomes, with Fields also in the mix
Kansas City’s depth-chart context adds another layer to the decision.. Nussmeier will now work behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields, which changes how his transition can be handled.. Instead of being forced into rapid escalation. he can focus on recovery. footwork. and throwing mechanics while absorbing how the team’s offense operates in real time.
There’s also a broader football reality beneath the headlines: quarterbacks don’t develop only by being active on Sundays.. They improve by studying protections. refining timing. and learning how coaches expect throws to be delivered—especially on the kinds of short. high-percentage routes that build an offense’s rhythm.
If Nussmeier’s injury is truly behind him and he’s able to keep improving his throwing mechanics from a clean baseline, the Chiefs may view this as a classic “value” pick—one that compensates for the uncertainty of his earlier evaluation.
Why fans are reacting the way they are
Fans generally moved through the initial shock of Nussmeier’s slide, but the debate didn’t vanish. When a quarterback prospect drops far enough to land in the seventh round, supporters understandably ask: was the talent wrong, or were the risks underestimated?
Misryoum sees that the reaction is really about perceived opportunity cost.. Quarterbacks are scarce, and the draft is the one moment where fans expect clear signals.. Yet the NFL’s quarterback ecosystem is also built on developmental ladders. and late-round selections sometimes become meaningful simply because the team believes there is a path from “raw” to “ready.”
In Nussmeier’s case. the production is there. the scouting fit is there. and the recent step toward improving interception numbers is there—if the mechanics and health hold up.. The Chiefs may not be counting on him to start quickly. but they could be counting on him to become a dependable option in the future.
The real test: recovery and repeatability
The next phase for Nussmeier isn’t glamour—it’s repeatability. Recovery from injury is only the start; the tougher question is whether his throwing motion, decision speed, and accuracy can stay consistent once he’s fully removed from the restrictions of playing through discomfort.
In a league where small timing issues can look like big decision flaws, the Chiefs’ offseason program will be the proving ground. If he improves the habit work he referenced, and if the quick-game concepts translate naturally, the value of the pick grows.
For now, his 7th-round landing is both a reset and a second chance. And for Kansas City, it’s a calculated bet that the quarterback slide doesn’t reflect the ceiling—only the volatility around the risk factors.