In a world where the quarterback is the most important player on your team, the Cleveland Browns have yet to find their franchise-altering player at the position.

After the failed stint with the former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, the organization is beginning to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. With Watson on the PUP list, Cleveland is able to roll out a quarterback room with veteran Joe Flacco, along with two rookie quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. And despite all the offseason moves at the position, the Browns are still in the running for selecting a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft due to the franchise having two first-round picks.

It's tough to evaluate who could be a top player in next year's draft class at the beginning of the season, but there's one name that NFL scouts have been keeping in eye on heading into the season: LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

As the son of former NFL quarterback and now offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints Doug Nussmeier, the senior standout possesses a perfect football pedigree that has gained the attention of NFL front offices. This, combined with his impressive tape from last season gives him the opportunity to become the first quarterback selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.

In his first season as the starter for the Tigers, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 26 touchdowns, while completing 64.2 percent of his pass attempts during the 2024 season. And despite having the chance to enter into the 2025 NFL Draft, the highly-acclaimed quarterback ultimately stayed an extra season at LSU. This decision has already begun to work in Nussmeiers' favor, as he led his team to a week one victory over the Clemson Tigers on the road, 17-10. Nussmeier ended the night with 230 passing yards and one touchdown, while completing 28 of his 28 pass attempts.

Why Nussmeier Fits The Cleveland Browns

Throughout his time with the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski has made it clear that his system requires a specific type of quarterback in order to be truly successful, with the most recent example being Flacco. The 40-year-old veteran does a terrific job of playing within the structure by getting through his progressions and making timely throws. Luckily for Nussmeier, this is exactly what he does within LSU's offense. Head coach Brian Kelly puts all the responsibility on his quarterback to make checks at the line of scrimmage, which is rare for a college quarterback to have such abilities.

Nussmeier, in addition to his high I.Q., is the catalysts of the Tiger's pass-heavy offense. His tape is riddled with timely throws, along with many completions into tight windows. These traits are tough to find in most college prospects, as it's rare for colleges to run an NFL-style that gives a large amount of responsibility to the quarterback.

After trading back in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland now possesses two first-round picks in next year's draft. This puts the franchise in an ideal position to potentially select Nussmeier next offseason. Depending on how the Browns or Jacksonville Jaguars do this season, general manager Andrew Berry can either trade up in the draft or use a top pick on Nussmeier.