Garrett Nussmeier was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 249 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The former LSU quarterback had once been discussed as a much earlier selection, but an injury-affected final college season and questions in his evaluation contributed to a dramatic slide down the draft board.
Nussmeier is now an active rookie quarterback for Kansas City, wearing No. 19. The Chiefs list him at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, while their current unofficial depth chart places him behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields.
Quick Bio: Garrett Nussmeier
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Garrett Paul Nussmeier |
| Age | 24 |
| Hometown | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Current Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Jersey Number | No. 19 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 205 lbs |
| College | LSU |
| NFL Draft | 2026, Round 7, No. 249 overall |
| NFL Experience | Rookie |
Kansas City’s official roster confirms his current team, number, measurements, age and rookie status.
Where Was Garrett Nussmeier Drafted?
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Garrett Nussmeier at No. 249 overall on April 25, 2026, making him the 33rd selection of the seventh round. Kansas City acquired the pick through Indianapolis and Pittsburgh before using it on the LSU quarterback.
That answer matters because much of the older content surrounding Nussmeier still reflects his pre-draft reputation. At various points before the 2026 draft, he had been discussed as a significantly higher-level prospect.
The actual outcome was very different: Kansas City waited until deep in Round 7 before adding him to its quarterback room.
Why Did Garrett Nussmeier Fall to Round 7?
Nussmeier’s fall was one of the more notable quarterback stories of the 2026 draft.
He entered his final LSU season with considerable attention after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in 13 games during 2024. That production created expectations that he could position himself among the more prominent quarterbacks in the following draft class.
His 2025 season did not follow the same path. Injuries limited him to nine starts, in which he threw for 1,927 yards and 12 touchdowns. NFL.com’s draft coverage described his final LSU campaign as injury-plagued and noted that medical concerns remained part of his evaluation.
Health, however, was not the only element evaluators considered.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein highlighted Nussmeier’s arm talent and compact release but also raised concerns about consistency when diagnosing coverages, working through progressions, protecting the football and maintaining durability.
It would be misleading to claim that one specific issue caused every NFL team to pass on him multiple times. Teams keep their individual draft boards private. What can be said is that his injury-affected season and the evaluation concerns documented during the pre-draft process were important parts of the discussion surrounding his slide.
How High Was Nussmeier Viewed Before the Draft?
The contrast between Nussmeier’s draft reputation and his eventual selection is what makes the Garrett Nussmeier NFL Draft story notable.
Following his strong 2024 season, he generated early first-round discussion. Even later in the process, some evaluators continued to rank him far above a typical seventh-round prospect.
Kansas City’s own pre-training-camp coverage noted that The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler ranked Nussmeier as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class, behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson.
Nussmeier also earned Senior Bowl MVP honors and received positive attention during the offseason evaluation process. Despite that momentum, his draft position ultimately fell all the way to No. 249.
That makes older projections useful only as historical context. They should not be confused with what actually happened on draft weekend.
What Did Kansas City See in Nussmeier?
Nussmeier arrived in the NFL with a combination of experience, arm talent and football knowledge that made him an intriguing late-round developmental option.
He spent his early LSU seasons behind other quarterbacks before becoming the full-time starter in 2024. Over his final two seasons, he threw 41 touchdown passes, and he finished his LSU career with 7,699 passing yards and 52 touchdowns.
His football background also runs in the family. His father, Doug Nussmeier, played quarterback and has built a long coaching career in college football and the NFL. Garrett grew up around quarterback preparation and offensive systems, giving him exposure to the position well before his own college career became nationally prominent.
For Kansas City, a seventh-round selection did not require Nussmeier to arrive as a finished NFL starter. The pick offered the Chiefs an opportunity to develop a quarterback with legitimate passing ability at a relatively late point in the draft.
Where Does Garrett Nussmeier Stand With the Chiefs Now?
Nussmeier made Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, joining Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields in the quarterback room.
The Chiefs’ current unofficial depth chart lists:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Justin Fields
- Garrett Nussmeier
That places Nussmeier in a developmental role rather than suggesting an immediate challenge for the starting job.
He did receive meaningful preseason work. Across three preseason games, Nussmeier completed 44 of 70 passes for 370 yards, with no touchdown passes and one interception.
For a seventh-round rookie, simply earning a place on the active roster is an important early step. His situation also gives him the opportunity to develop inside an offense led by head coach Andy Reid while sharing a quarterback room with Mahomes and Fields.
Garrett Nussmeier’s LSU Career Set Up His NFL Opportunity
Nussmeier’s path to the NFL was not built on one season alone.
He remained at LSU for five seasons, initially serving in a reserve role before taking over the offense. His 2024 breakout established him as a legitimate NFL prospect, while his more difficult 2025 season changed the way his draft résumé was viewed.
LSU credits him with 7,699 career passing yards and 52 passing touchdowns, placing him among the more productive quarterbacks in program history.
That college résumé explains why his fall to the seventh round attracted attention: the Chiefs were selecting a quarterback with substantial SEC experience and prior high-level draft buzz at No. 249.
Conclusion
Garrett Nussmeier’s draft story is ultimately about the gap between expectation and outcome. Once discussed as a much earlier selection, the former LSU quarterback lasted until No. 249 before Kansas City called his name. His next challenge is no longer proving where he should have been drafted; it is developing within the Chiefs’ quarterback room and turning a seventh-round opportunity into an NFL career.
FAQs
What round was Garrett Nussmeier drafted?
Garrett Nussmeier was drafted in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the No. 249 overall selection.
Who drafted Garrett Nussmeier?
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Nussmeier. He remains on Kansas City’s active roster as a rookie quarterback.
What pick was Garrett Nussmeier?
Nussmeier was the 249th overall pick and the 33rd selection in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why did Garrett Nussmeier fall in the NFL Draft?
His injury-affected 2025 season and concerns documented during the evaluation process, including durability, decision-making and consistency, contributed to questions about his projection. The private reasons individual teams passed on him are not publicly known.
What team is Garrett Nussmeier on now?
Nussmeier is currently an active quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s roster lists him as No. 19.
Where did Garrett Nussmeier play college football?
He played at LSU from 2021 through 2025, eventually becoming the Tigers’ starting quarterback and finishing his college career with 7,699 passing yards.
How tall is Garrett Nussmeier?
The Chiefs currently list Nussmeier at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. Measurements published during different stages of his college and pre-draft career varied slightly, so the current NFL roster measurement is the most useful figure for his professional profile.
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