A Seventh-Round Pick Is Making Things Interesting for the Chiefs QB Room in 2026

Garrett Nussmeier is trending toward being the steal of the 2026 NFL Draft. The former LSU Tigers QB, selected 249th overall in the seventh round, earned reps with the first-team offense in training camp and has outperformed QB2 Justin Fields in the preseason. In the first game against the Los Angeles Rams, he was 13-of-19 for 98 yards, and against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he was nine-of-17 for 74 yards. In each contest, he wowed with Mahomesian throws in which he ran to his left outside the pocket, flipped his hips square with the target, and delivered a pinpoint-accurate strike. However, given the financial investment Kansas City has in Fields, and Andy Reid's preference for veterans, it’s unlikely Nussmeier will take the former first-round draft pick’s spot. Still, when many a Chiefs fan is asked who they’d prefer, after what they’ve seen so far, the rookie seems to have won hearts and minds. It’s an interesting dilemma the Chiefs have found themselves in, especially if the LSU alum plays lights out in the final preseason game against Seattle.

There’s a good chance Nussmeier could play the entire game against the Seahawks. Reid is limiting Fields to protect depth before the season, and perennial practice squad QB and fourth option, Chris Oladokun, is still in concussion protocol after sustaining the injury against the Buccaneers last week. So, the stage is set for the seventh-rounder to show the league just how much was left on the table when he was passed over until nearly the last pick of the draft. Of course, coaching and organization matter, and Kansas City, the league’s current dynasty, is the best place the LSU gunslinger could have landed. Coach Reid is a quarterback savant, and with what Patrick Mahomes can teach him, what skills Nussmeier brought to the team can be improved upon exponentially.

So, what happens if the standout rookie continues his stellar play against the current Super Bowl champions? This is a big question in Chiefs Kingdom. Short term, unless Fields is injured, ticks seriously downward in practice, or proves unreliable behind center in Mahomes’ absence, Nussmeier will be the third option until the Heisman finalist’s contract is up, which will run through the 2026 season. Some fans are in favor of trading him down the line for draft capital if he continues to play well and improve. This is short-sighted and overlooks the value of a competent QB2 for four years on a manageable rookie contract. With the face of the franchise having just sustained the most significant injury of his career, it matters more than ever that his backup can be relied upon to perform to a high standard. The eye test so far says that Nussmeier is capable of reaching that standard.