Full Breakdown
Chiefs Draft Garrett Nussmeier in Seventh Round, Targeting a Long-Term Backup for Patrick Mahomes
4/28/2026, 9:06:36 AM
Chiefs Draft Garrett Nussmeier in Seventh Round
On Feb 28 2026, the Kansas City Chiefs used the 249th overall pick (Round 7), acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, to select LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the franchise’s first quarterback draft pick since 2017.
Background & Context
Entering the draft, Nussmeier was a top-three quarterback prospect after a 2024 season of 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and Reliaquest Bowl MVP honors. In 2025, abdominal pain, an oblique strain and a spinal cyst limited him to nine starts, producing 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Data & Statistics
Nussmeier measures 6 ft 1 in, 203 lb. He completed 64 % of passes in 2024 (4,052 yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs) and 67 % in 2025 (1,927 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs). His rookie contract is a four-year deal worth roughly $4 million with minimal guarantees.
Official Statements & Responses
Chiefs VP of Player Personnel Ryne Nutt said Nussmeier was “a unique case” and that the slide was likely due to his season performance rather than the spinal cyst. He noted the team’s draft contact was “pretty minimal,” calling it a “big chess match.” The pick fulfills a long-standing plan by GM Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid to develop a high-upside backup for Mahomes.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts such as talkSPORT flagged Nussmeier’s injury history—spinal cyst, oblique strain and patellar tendinitis—as a durability concern, questioning whether the slide reflected genuine medical risk. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick called the drop “shocking,” suggesting teams were uneasy about his health.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports diverge on why Nussmeier fell to the seventh round. Some sources attribute the decline primarily to the spinal cyst identified at the Combine, while Nutt emphasized season performance and LSU coaching changes, stating the cyst was not the main factor. No public medical update clarifies the cyst’s current impact.
Why It Matters / Impact
The pick gives Kansas City a low-cost, high-upside option to groom a long-term backup for Mahomes, potentially reducing reliance on short-term free-agent contracts such as the one-year deal with Justin Fields. It also demonstrates the Chiefs’ willingness to leverage late-round value to address a critical roster need.
What’s Next
Nussmeier will join the Chiefs for offseason programs, OTAs and training camp, where he will compete for the third-string quarterback spot and possibly the Week 1 backup role if Fields departs after 2026. His development will be overseen by Andy Reid, with health monitoring for the spinal cyst.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously, it was difficult for me sitting there and not understanding why,” — Garrett Nussmeier, quarterback
- “It was pretty minimal, you know,” — Garrett Nussmeier, quarterback
- “There’s something going on here,” — Louis Riddick, ESPN analyst
- “I’m so excited to be in a room with those guys, coach (Andy) Reid and his unbelievable offensive mind and sitting behind Patrick and steal some things from him and see the game through his eyes.” — Garrett Nussmeier, quarterback
