The Kansas City Chiefs have yet to develop a young backup quarterback since Alex Smith tutored Patrick Mahomes. That changed with their final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, when they selected LSU standout quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
I’m not sure drafting a quarterback in the final round of the 7th was on the Kansas City Chiefs’ bingo card. However, based on the picks the team has made to date, the decision to add LSU Gunslinger Garrett Nussmeier was a home run. Over five seasons at LSU, he threw for 7,699 yards and 52 touchdown passes in just 40 games.
Some boards rated him highly, but for some reason, he fell to the end of round seven. In 2024, he was a finalist for the Manning Award after starting all 13 games for the Tigers. Last season, he played in only nine games after an abdominal injury resurfaced.
Kansas City spent significant time studying his film, and given that they heavily scouted Nussmeier’s teammate, Mansoor Delane, who was selected with the sixth overall pick in round one, General Manager Brett Veach seemed to like what he saw in the Tigers quarterback.
Some were put off by his size and his tendency to be intercepted, but he has the Gunslinger mentality that should complement Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City needed a young quarterback because we don’t yet know when QB1 will return to practice.
Further, this takes some pressure off Quarterback Justin Fields, who was traded to the Chiefs earlier this month. Nussmeier will get significant reps in the rookie Mini-Camp next weekend in Kansas City. If he does well, those snaps might increase at OTAs and the mandatory minicamp in May and June.
Nussmeier is a gifted quarterback, and his loyalty to LSU and playmaking ability made him a fan favorite. If he can show some of that flair and avoid turning the ball over in training camp and preseason games, it’s possible Kansas City could carry three quarterbacks this season.
After the nightmare the Chiefs went through trying to find a healthy quarterback when Mahomes went down, it’s not a bad idea for the Chiefs to consider that possibility.
For me, though, I think this move falls in line with the rest of the Chiefs’ 2026 Draft Class. They set out to add a specific type of player who loves the game, works hard, has humble traits, and has no off-the-field red flags. Further, they found playmakers who should easily fit into the Chiefs’ culture.
Nussmeier is certainly of that mold. Perhaps he can be mentored as Alex Smith did, and in the long term, the LSU quarterback could be the eventual backup in Kansas City in 2027.
With the NFL Draft concluded, the Kansas City Chiefs are already busy signing undrafted free agents. Stay tuned to Chiefs Blitz for the latest UDFA signings.
