There gets to be a point in the NFL draft where being selected might matter a bit less than fit, and that’s often the case in the seventh round where guys end up on teams who just take flyers by that time, versus ending up in a better spot for them to actually develop. For quarterbacks, that development is paramount, and former LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier couldn’t have found a better place to land from that perspective than with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs used their final pick in the seventh round to select Nussmeier No. 249 overall. In Nussmeier’s own words, “it’s not when, it’s where,” and Nussmeier was lucky to find such a credible home to land that late in the draft process.
He waited longer than expected, but he will now head to the Chiefs to compete behind Patrick Mahomes. Nussmeier spoke about getting anxious throughout the draft waiting, as he fell a bit further than expected, but is excited for the opportunity in Kansas City to learn under head coach Andy Reid and be able to watch Mahomes up close. He joins a room with Justin Fields holding the spot as backup for now on a one-year deal. However, he could be a real long-term backup option for Kansas City for 2027 and hopefully beyond. Despite injuries limiting his production on the field in his 2025 campaign for the Tigers, his arm strength still shone through and endeared the Chiefs to want to snag him before Day 3 ended.
Here is the full story from Chiefs Roundtable writer Bob McCullough on the new QB3 in town and his upside in the quarterback room.
His Combine testing revealed a spinal cyst that contributed to his oblique pain throughout his final college season, and also played through patellar tendon tendinitis, resulting in throwing for just 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions in nine games. If the pain continues, he has a minor procedure as an option. But his 2024 season with 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns shows that he has a shot to stick in the league.