LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Draws Interesting Early NFL Comp

First Round Mock’s NFL Draft Analyst Rajvir Bal has evaluated LSU quarterback (QB) Garrett Nussmeier and sees an interesting NFL comparison when viewing his film.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is this year’s latest draft riser. He has taken on most of the hype as his team has been ascending.

Back on July 7, the other draft platforms (nflmockdraftdatabase.com) were seeing Nussmeier as a seventh-round projection. They were seeing him as the No. 207 ranked prospect. Only 1.1% had him mocked as a first-round projection.

That has changed.

At this point of the process, as of November 1, they have upped their projection to the second round as the No. 34 ranked prospect (8.9% are seeing him as a first-rounder).

That number is fluid and he has yet to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. The deadline to declare is expected to be in mid-January according to the league’s website.

What does all of this data tell us?

His draft stock has skyrocketed.

Is all this hype warranted?

Let’s look at his journey to this point and then unpack that answer.

Background

As a 4-star prospect (247Sports), Nussmeier committed to LSU directly out of high school in 2020. This season is his first year as the Tigers’ starter.

Here’s a look at his stats:

2024 (through the first eight games courtesy of ESPN): 

• 208 completions
• 333 attempts (62.5%)
• 2,627 yards 
• 20 touchdowns
• Nine interceptions

This prospect ranks in the 33rd percentile for height and the 3rd percentile for weight among QBs (nfldraftbuzz.com).

#13 Garrett Nussmeier 6-foot-2, 200 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)
Projected by 8.9% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 1, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film reviewed: USC, South Carolina, and Ole Miss (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

The Good

Nussmeier has a lot of very valuable NFL traits on film. Specifically, he can throw with anticipation. This is something that is not simply taught, but something that comes naturally. He shows the ability to scan the field and read defenses, which will serve him well at the next level. He has good things going on between his ears. There’s the consistent ability to process information quickly and take advantage of less talented teams. Because of this quick processing time, he was also able to get the ball out of his hands quickly. He did show swagger as well.

The Bad

This prospect is completely unable to respond to any pocket pressure. He is constantly looking erratic when blitzed. Any signs of the poise he normally exhibits are replaced by a sense of confusion and insecurity. This was particularly clear in his first interception vs. South Carolina. Additionally, the LSU offense doesn’t exactly ‘move through him’. He seems to be a catalyst for the LSU offensive system instead of a true game-changer. Nussmeier isn’t exactly going to single-handedly win games on Sundays. Lastly, LSU rarely allows him to go deep, and it’s for a reason. His deep ball accuracy was concerning.

NFL Crystal Ball

New York Giants

New York Jets

Miami Dolphins

Those are the top three teams I see as a fit for Nussmeier (in that order).

Pro Comp: Case Keenum (Texans, Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Redskins, Browns and Bills)

Final thoughts for now

Overall Nussmeier looks solid on film, but he has some things that need cleaning up. I see him as a journeyman starter/high-end backup throughout his NFL career. To reflect this assessment, I’ve graded him accordingly.

Mid second round

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.