Garrett Nussmeier NFL Draft Scouting Report: Most Pro-Ready QB in the 2026 Class?

Garrett Nussmeier enters the 2025 college football season as one of the most experienced and refined passers in the country. After waiting behind Jayden Daniels and earning his first full-time starting reps in 2024, Nussmeier delivered a statistically strong campaign that positioned him as a potential early-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While he lacks elite athletic traits, his arm talent, mental processing, and leadership presence make him one of the most intriguing pocket passers in this class.

NFL Draft Profile:

Garrett Nussmeier | QB | LSU

Height: 6’2” | Weight: 200 lbs

Class: Redshirt Senior

Strengths

• Natural Arm Talent & Velocity - Nussmeier generates clean, high-velocity throws with minimal strain. His quick release and ability to drive the football into tight windows stand out, especially on deep outs and intermediate crossers.

• Experienced & Mechanically Sound - With multiple years in the LSU system, Nussmeier shows advanced footwork, compact mechanics, and polished rhythm in the quick passing game. His ability to time routes and hit receivers in stride is pro-ready.

• Poised Under Pressure - Despite being pressured 150 times in 2024, he was sacked just 15 times—an elite pressure-to-sack rate. His movement within the pocket and spatial awareness help him reset platforms and keep plays alive without panicking.

• Scheme Versatility & Processing - Fits best in a West Coast or rhythm-based NFL scheme. Shows the ability to scan the field and throw with anticipation. His style mirrors passers like Joe Burrow—smart, accurate, and fearless from the pocket.

Areas for Improvement

• Turnover-Worthy Decisions - Though he threw only 12 INTs, Nussmeier posted 18 turnover-worthy plays in 2024 (Top 20 nationally). His 3.1% TWP rate is above the elite threshold, especially for a QB with limited dual-threat mobility.

• Variance Under Pressure - His turnover-worthy play rate spiked to 6% when pressured—compared to a solid 2% when kept clean. While he avoids sacks well, his decision-making under duress remains inconsistent and must improve in 2025.

• Limited Athletic Upside - Not a true dual-threat. With only 12 scrambles in 2024, Nussmeier operates primarily from structure. While he can extend plays subtly, he lacks the dynamic mobility of modern Tier-1 NFL QBs.

  
  

Ideal NFL Scheme Fit

Nussmeier profiles best in a West Coast-style offense that emphasizes timing, accuracy, and full-field reads. He would thrive in a system similar to what Kevin O’Connell runs in Minnesota.

NFL Comparison

• Ceiling: Jared Goff – Smart, rhythm-based passer with the ability to lead an efficient offense when protected and well-coached.

• Floor: Nick Mullens – Strong technician with limited traits who can thrive in the right system but won’t elevate it on his own.

• Stylistic Comp: Joe Burrow (Lite) – Similar mental makeup, confidence, and accuracy—but lacking the same twitchy mobility and elite intangibles.

  
  

2026 NFL Draft Outlook

Garrett Nussmeier currently grades as a Mid-Level Starter Potential prospect on the Football Scout 365 scale. His current projection lands him in the late Round 1 to early Round 2 range, with the potential to rise if he reduces his turnover-worthy throws and sharpens his post-snap reads in 2025.

He may not be the flashiest name in a quarterback class full of tools-heavy prospects, but his combination of toughness, experience, and polish could make him one of the safest bets to start early in his NFL career.