BATON ROUGE — Garrett Nussmeier is back. After a “stabbing pain” in his abdomen derailed his 2025 season, the LSU gunslinger silenced doubters at Monday’s Pro Day, delivering a clinic that has scouts talking about a Round 1 resurgence. He didn’t just throw; he carved up the defense of ghosts in the indoor facility, proving his 1,927 passing yards last fall were a result of injury, not a lack of talent.
Nussmeier entered 2025 as a Heisman favorite following a massive 2024 campaign where he racked up 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns. Then came Day 2 of fall camp. A rare abdominal injury turned every throw into a physical grind. His production dipped, and his draft stock followed. But on Monday, the ball hissed off his hand again. He hit Aaron Anderson on a 50-yard post route that drew a rare audible gasp from the contingent of NFL scouts. The velocity is back. The footwork is crisp. Most importantly, the pain is gone.
Observers noted that Nussmeier looked like the player who dominated the Senior Bowl in January. That MVP performance in Mobile was the first sign of life; Monday was the confirmation. While Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson remain the consensus top two quarterbacks, Nussmeier just put a firm grip on the QB3 spot. The physical tools are obvious, but the mental toughness he displayed while playing through a “mystery” injury for nine games in 2025 has impressed front offices even more.
“It’s been a long road to try to get back to being healthy. It’s been tough, but it was definitely a challenging year. I’m a big believer in my faith, and I’m very thankful to have gone through it, as crazy as that sounds. I feel like because I went through what I went through this year, I don’t know if there’s anything that’s gonna faze me going into this next level.”
— Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Quarterback
The draft stock “slide” is officially over. Nussmeier confirmed he has upcoming workouts with the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams, along with a Top-30 visit to the Indianapolis Colts. The Rams are a particularly interesting fit; with Matthew Stafford nearing the end, Nussmeier’s “son of a coach” IQ and refined mechanics make him a dream developmental project for Sean McVay.
Expect Nussmeier to hear his name called no later than the early second round. Some analysts, including ESPN’s Field Yates, suggest a team could even jump back into the late first round to secure him. He has the pedigree, the production from 2024, and now the clean bill of health. In a draft class looking for stability under center, Nussmeier looks like the safest bet outside of the top two.
