Will LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier shine on the spotlight of the NFL Combine stage beginning Feb 26 in Indianapolis, Indiana? That will be one of the storylines to watch during the scouting extravaganza that kicks off the pre-draft process.
With all eyes on top QB prospects like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson, NFL scouts will be starting for a QB3 to step up into the 2026 NFL Draft big board as a Day 1 or Day 2 option for teams looking for a future QB.
Nussmeier, who was once considered a top 5 talent, will have an opportunity to show NFL scouts he is more the QB he was in his breakout season in 2024 and not the QB who was hampered by an abdominal injury most of his 2025 season.
Simply put, if Nussmeier impresses, his draft stock will soar. How high it soars will be the question.
What they were saying prior to the 2025 season
In evaluating Nussmeier back in June, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah made a noteworthy comparison to Andy Dalton who was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Dalton went on to have a solid career as a starter, playing much of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals before becoming a veteran journeyman over the past few seasons.
If the touch and deep ball accuracy is showcased at the NFL Combine, his draft stock will rise as NFL teams are primed to also fall in lust with the toughness that surrounds him. Noteworthy weaknesses include his size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds), his limitations in mobility and injury concerns. But what will stand out about Nussmeier is his quick processing and he does have the arm talent as a gunslinger as evidenced by this deep ball accuracy.
To quote Jeremiah, it is his toughness that will stand out with evaluators on tape. At the combine, he will get to showcase his arm talent and show he’s more mobile than the film shows as well.
In his assessment, Jeremiyah wrote:
“I love his toughness to hang in the pocket and deliver strikes when absorbing big hits. He's a clunky mover, but he still manages to evade free runners at times, creating outside of the play structure. He has excellent touch on the deep ball and is also adept on over/under throws (over linebackers/under safeties).”
What was learned during the 2025 season
Following a breakout 2024 season at LSU, Nussmeier took a step back as far as his draft stock. This was mostly due to injury, which further hurt the bet he took on himself by foregoing the 2025 NFL Draft and returning to school for another season.
During the season, Nussmeier completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. With a decrease in his passing yards per game, it was the abdominal injury that really caused Nussmeier to change his mechanics a bit in his delivery, which impacted his accuracy. He also became less of a gunslinger impacted by poor offensive line protection and his discomfort in his delivery of the ball.
With a strong showing at the 2026 Senior Bowl, Nussmeier did regain momentum as a quarterback. He was named the MVP of the game by completing 5 of 8 passes for 57 yards and a rushing touchdown. Can he continue that momentum at the NFL Combine by proving he’s one of the top QBs in the draft when healthy?
If he shines on the stage, there is a very good chance Garrett Nussmeier will be the third QB off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.