NFL insider comments on Garrett Nussmeier’s ‘odd’ fall down draft boards
By David Wasson
Published:
Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier remains undrafted into Saturday’s fifth round, lending credence to concerns NFL teams have about Nussmeier’s health.
“I think it’s fair to say teams are really trying to understand what to actually make of his season last past year, which didn’t quite compare to his 2024,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Saturday during the 2026 NFL Draft. “They learned at the combine that he was dealing with a cyst near his spine, something that really caused the weakness and discomfort.
“Still, I would say a little odd that he hasn’t been selected, as most teams believe he would be a good backup quarterback at the least.”
According to an earlier report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Nussmeier had a cyst on his spine that was “pressing on a nerve” and causing oblique issues. According to Pelissero, the cyst was discovered via tests conducted by doctors at the NFL combine, and that Nussmeier could address the issue with surgery in the future but he’s currently asymptomatic.
Nussmeier’s senior season at LSU was clearly impacted by his injury. From 2024 to 2025, Nussmeier’s yards-per-attempt dropped from 7.7 to 6.7. He also threw just 12 touchdown passes in nine games before being shut down late in the season.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
