Garrett Nussmeier cracks ESPN ‘All-Film team’ for 2026 NFL Draft
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Evaluating a quarterback is exceptionally tough year in and year out. Not many expected Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes to become one of the greatest quarterbacks the game has ever seen about 10 years ago. Tom Brady was drafted 199th overall, and Brock Purdy — though not on the level of the other 2 — was the very last player taken in the 2022 NFL Draft.
So, who’s going to be the value play this year? According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the answer is LSU standout Garrett Nussmeier.
On Tuesday, Solak dropped his All-Film team for the 2026 NFL Draft, with one players listed for each position group. Solak thinks Nussmeier stands out as a potential dark horse because of his stellar film in 2024. In the article, he even compared Nussmeier’s 2024 film to Ty Simpson’s 2025 film at Alabama. However, as he points out, Nussmeier could go 2 or 3 rounds later than Simpson in this year’s draft.
Nussmeier’s 2025 season was a strange one. LSU’s offensive line wasn’t nearly as effective as it was in 2024, and he dealt with some injury issues that further hampered his ability to move in the pocket. Nussmeier went from a 4,000-yard passer in 2024 to a sub-3000-yard passer in 2025 had he played every game and continued his pace.
The fundamentals are there, though. Not to mention, Nussmeier comes from a coaching family. Could Nussmeier turn a few heads come next season?
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
