DynastySignal Scouting Report: Garrett Nussmeier — QB | LSU | Junior

2026 NFL Draft | Film Evaluated: February 2026

The Short Version

Garrett Nussmeier is a high-upside, air-it-out pocket passer with legitimate mid-round Day 1 draft capital and a real shot at being a weekly fantasy starter in year two or three of his NFL career. He fires with plus arm strength through tight midfield windows, he can move the pocket and extend plays with functional athleticism, and he showed he can perform under the brightest lights — a 73.7% completion performance in a hostile Clemson environment is not nothing. The case against: he forces throws into dangerous situations under pressure, his lower-body mechanics break down when he releases from improvised platforms, and his 12 interceptions in 2024 against SEC competition are a legitimate red flag. The dynasty buy is real, but the ceiling debate is legitimate — he's more "high-end QB2 with QB1 weeks" than a true franchise cornerstone unless the mechanics get cleaned up.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|---|---|

| Position | Quarterback |

| School | LSU Tigers |

| Class | Junior (2026 draft eligible) |

| Height | 6'2" |

| Weight | 200 lbs |

| Birthplace | Lake Charles, LA |

| Jersey # | 13 |

| 2024 Season Passing Yards | 4,052 |

| 2024 Season TDs | 29 |

| 2024 Season INTs | 12 |

| 2024 QBR | 80.0 (10th nationally) |

| Completion % (2024) | 63.1% |

| EPA/Play | 0.17 |

| Net Yds/Pass | 7.5 |

| INT% | 2.3% |

| Sack% | 2.8% |

| Yds/Rush | 5.7 |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|

| NFLTradingRoom — You Didn't Notice This From Garrett Nussmeier... (Clemson Film Breakdown) | 18 frames (film_001–film_018) | All-22 route diagrams, pre-snap reads, pocket structure analysis vs Clemson defense |

| Rookie Big Board — Nussmeier vs Clemson All 22 Tape Breakdown | 19 frames (film_2_001–film_2_019) | Full scouting report card, PFF grades vs Clemson and TAMU, play-by-play All-22 delivery analysis, strengths/weaknesses breakdown |

| RayGQue — Garrett Nussmeier the next Great LSU Quarterback \| 2026 NFL Draft | 18 frames (highlights_001–highlights_018) | Player profile data, season stats, pass charting, player comparison radar (vs Klubnik/Allar/Sellers/Mendoza/Mateer), mobility clip tracking, multi-game snap samples |

What the Film Shows

1. Arm Talent

Grade: B+

The arm is genuinely plus. film_005 shows Nussmeier delivering on time through a collapsing pocket at Clemson — tight rope throw into the midfield window that his PFF deep passing grade of 76.1 backs up. The highlights_002 pass chart confirms he's attempting throws at an average air distance of 8.9 yards with 21.1 average yards completed — not a dink-and-dunk system player. film_2_009 captures his release point during a contested pass under duress — he gets the ball out quickly and with zip even with his platform compromised. Where I pump the brakes: film_2_011 shows a pass that appears tipped or intercepted, and the mechanical issues discussed below cap what the arm can produce consistently.

2. Accuracy & Touch

Grade: B-

Nussmeier's accuracy is situational. When clean and on time, he's sharp — the Clemson box score (28/38, 73.7%) is elite-level completion percentage territory for an SEC environment (film_2_001). He can lead receivers outside the hashes and down the seam (Rookie Big Board scouting card, film_2_001). But his mid-field accuracy drops noticeably under any defensive pressure. The PFF medium-zone grade vs Clemson (56.8) and vs TAMU (56.5) tells the story — he grades fine deep (76.1/66.0) but is inconsistent in the mid-range. His ADOT of 4.4 vs Clemson suggests he was heavily working the short game in that matchup despite the deep grade, meaning the completion rate was partially scheme-assisted (film_2_006, film_2_007). Ball placement from improvised platforms is a clear negative — the Rookie Big Board breakdown explicitly flags this (film_2_001).

3. Processing & Decision Making

Grade: B-

The pre-snap processing looks legitimate. film_001 through film_004 show the All-22 breakdowns from NFLTradingRoom — Nussmeier is reading the coverage structure and identifying the route combination that attacks it. He understands the concept of route-defender conflict and is finding the right window at pre-snap (film_003 yellow arrow shows clean screen-to-flat-to-backside-post read). film_013 and film_014 show him moving through progressions with purpose. The problem is post-snap under pressure: the "3 Take Aways" slide from Rookie Big Board (film_2_006) puts it plainly — "Mixed Under Pressure." His 12 interceptions in 2024 and his tendency to force throws into tight windows (film_2_001) are the evidence. This is a QB who processes well in a clean pocket but whose decision-making degrades materially when the structure breaks down. That's a correctable issue with NFL-level coaching, but it's not corrected yet.

4. Mobility & Athleticism

Grade: B

Nussmeier is not a running QB in the traditional sense, but he's more athletic than his 200-lb frame might suggest. highlights_005 shows him tracked at 12.8 mph on a scramble — that's functional NFL-caliber speed for a pocket QB. He can move the pocket, extend plays, and make accurate throws on the move (film_2_001: "has enough athleticism to move the pocket, extend the play, and make good throws on the run"). His EPA/Rush of 0.40 is solid — better than Cade Klubnik (0.37) and Drew Allar (0.26) among his stylistic comps (highlights_004). He logged 5.7 yards per carry in 2024. He's not going to threaten defenses as a runner, but he won't be a statue either.

5. Pocket Presence & Toughness

Grade: B-

Mixed bag here. When the pocket is clean or manageable, Nussmeier shows good spatial awareness and doesn't panic — film_005 shows him delivering despite pressure in his face at Clemson. film_2_009 shows him absorbing contact through the throw. But the mechanics breakdown under pressure is the critical flaw. The Rookie Big Board scouting card (film_2_001) specifically notes: "Does not finish through his throws with a stable platform" and "Lower body mechanics are out of sync." This is not just a mechanical quirk — it's the root cause of the accuracy and decision-making issues under pressure. When his lower half disconnects, he loses control of ball placement and tends to force throws or release too early. This needs to be a top priority in NFL development.

6. System Fit

Grade: B

The comparison chart in highlights_004 places Nussmeier closest to Cade Klubnik (81% similarity) and Drew Allar (79.9%) — both spread-system college QBs who can operate from gun and under center. LSU runs a pro-style spread that asks Nussmeier to make multiple pre-snap adjustments, process zone/man coverage, and attack all three levels. That's good NFL prep. The film shows a wide variety of concepts — RPOs, play-action, quick game, vertical shot plays — suggesting he's not a one-read product. His ADOT flexibility (4.4 vs Clemson in game control mode; 11.7 vs TAMU when attacking more aggressively) shows he can adapt to what's asked. Best NFL fit: a West Coast or Air Raid team that gives him structure and lets his arm operate in 3-step and 5-step rhythm passing games.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

1. Derek Carr (primary comp)

Similar arm strength profile, same willingness to fire into tight windows, same tendency to break down mechanically under sustained pressure. Carr had the same "plus arm, questionable decisions, below-average mobility" profile coming out. Like Carr, Nussmeier profiles as a legitimate NFL starter who can put up quality numbers in the right system but whose ceiling is ultimately capped by the decision-making and mechanics issues. Carr's best seasons came in offense-friendly systems that protected him from bad decisions — Nussmeier needs the same scaffolding.

2. Gardner Minshew (floor comp)

Not the ceiling, but worth flagging as the realistic floor: a gritty, arm-talent-first QB who can win games in a system and put up functional fantasy numbers without ever becoming an elite starter. Minshew's playmaker mentality and comfort on the big stage mirror what Nussmeier showed at Clemson. If the mechanics don't get cleaned up and the decision-making under pressure doesn't improve, Minshew's career arc is the realistic landing spot.

Bottom Line

Nussmeier is a legitimate first-round talent with the arm, pre-snap intelligence, and big-game performance to justify the Day 1 draft capital. The mechanical issues under pressure are the variable that separates a future starter from a career backup — they are correctable with the right QB coach and the right system, but they are absolutely real and documented across multiple games and schemes. For dynasty, buy confidently in rookie drafts: the fantasy upside (1.01–1.04 ADP range feels right given the current landscape) is supported by his arm talent, attacking mentality, and system versatility. Manage expectations on year one; this is a year two or three dynasty asset.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 72/100

Projected Pick: R1, Pick 11-20

Film Score: 72 / 100

Garrett Nussmeier flashes plus arm talent and velocity on intermediate/deep throws, evident in CLEM_scene_0005.jpg and UF_scene_0006.jpg post-big gain, with compact quick release across SEC foes like Clemson and Florida.

Accuracy shines short-to-medium with anticipation (UF_scene_0002.jpg, SC_scene_0003.jpg), strong pre-snap processing (CLEM_scene_0003.jpg), though aggressive decisions risk turnovers.

Pocket presence adequate but shows happy feet (SC_scene_0004.jpg); functional mobility to extend plays, comfortable in spread sets (CLEM_scene_0001.jpg).

Late 1st/early 2nd round talent with Day 1 starter potential in timing-based systems; upgraded score reflects arm/processing against elite competition.

Key Film Findings: Plus velocity deep/intermediate (CLEM_scene_0005.jpg) | Pre-snap command SEC tests (UF_scene_0001.jpg) | Anticipatory intermediate accuracy (SC_scene_0003.jpg) [confidence: high]

Film Score: 82 / 100