Garrett Nussmeier is returning and will play his final CFB season this year. He could’ve gone pro last year, but chose to return to guarantee a top spot in the draft. Looking at his spring ball and offseason practices, it’s easy to say that Nussmeier is looking to seal 2025 as the dealmaker for the 2027 draft. But with some more fine-tuning down the line, Nussmeier stands a chance of stupefying all the NFL teams looking at him right now and going down as one of the top picks.
If Nussmeier had gone with his decision to participate in the draft last year, it wouldn’t have been an easy ride for him. He would’ve faced off against other QBs like Cam Ward, Dillon Gabriel, Jalen Milroe, and so many more. After all, 2025’s draft saw the deepest QB class ever. And Nussmeier, in his first season as a starter, had some flaws that could push him down that list. Coming back to college football seemed like the best possible direction to take for his future, and thankfully, he’s taken it. His ‘gunslinging’ ways got him 4,043 yards and 29 TDs, but they also cost him 12 interceptions.
He needed more time to prove his worth as a quality starting QB. Now, Todd McShay thinks Nussmeier will not just wow NFL teams–he’ll be one of the first to be picked. “He is absolutely in the conversation to be the first quarterback off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.” McShay said in a May 24 video on his show. He’s not the only analyst rooting for the LSU star. ESPN’s Rece Davis also thought that Nussmeier might just end up being the No. 1 Pick in the draft. But McShay says there is one small but important factor the QB could work on to cement that spot for himself.
“Running the football just a little bit more could be the secret sauce for Garrett Nussmeier to take his game from a really high level to like, yeah, ‘He’s the first quarterback off the board in 2026,’” he said. In his scouting report for the QB, McShay implied that Nussmeier stops short of putting in that extra effort with his legs. He emphasises how he’d like to see him run more. Lean on his feet in those moments, he has the urge to make high-risk decisions with the ball.
Nussmeier will also be leading a Brian Kelly team that is looking extremely good. This is also something that can aid the QB’s development as a top draft pick, said Todd McShay. “I believe that Brian Kelly does develop quarterbacks well, I now know that they have an off-season. I saw it with Jayden Daniels and now I want to see it with Garrett Nussmeier.” McShay also thought another former star had the same likes as Nussmeier.
Garrett Nussmeier finds similarities in Baker Mayfield
While watching the LSU QB’s tape, McShay was reminded of former Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield. Just like Nussmeier, Mayfield was also known for his tendency to be risky with the ball. He also had a trajectory similar to that of the QB. Mayfield, in his last season, threw for 4,627 yards, 43 TDs, but only 6 INTs. It was in the NFL where the similarities appeared. Mayfield was drafted as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft by Cleveland. And he did not fare well in his initial years.
His first year as a starter, he threw for 3,725 yards, scored 27 TDs, but racked up 14 interceptions. Next year proved to be even more problematic, where he scored 21 interceptions and 22 TDs. But then, Mayfield climbed back to his former glory. He threw for 3,563 yards, 26 TDs, and only 8 INTs. Last year, he scripted his best season ever for the Buccaneers. Mayfield threw for 4,500 yards, 41 TDs, and only 16 INTS. In March 2024, the QB scored a $100 million deal with the franchise, which is something even Nussmeier can look forward to recreating in his pro career.
There are also similarities in the way they play, McShay noted. He ranked the LSU QB won several aspects, and accuracy is where he finds common ground with Mayfield. That, and making those risky plays, is also where he resembles Mayfield. “Nussmeier scrambles to keep plays alive, fires off-balance throws, and trusts his arm to make something happen. It’s not always pretty, but when it works, it’s electric. Mayfield rode that same energy to a Heisman Trophy and the top of the 2018 NFL Draft.” College Football Network wrote, explaining why McShay grouped the two QBs. Gunslingers recognise each other, after all.
Nussmeier is locked in on working on his flaws. He has relentlessly watched and studied his game from last season, and is looking at making 2025 his own. Can he deliver upon those expectations, and once again repeat the success of Baker Mayfield in the draft?
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