Why Drafting a QB Was a Genius Move By the Chiefs

I doubt the Kansas City Chiefs were planning to pick a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.

They already have arguably the best one in the game (when healthy) in Patrick Mahomes, and a month before the draft, traded a sixth-round pick in 2027 for an experienced backup in Justin Fields.

But when LSU's Garrett Nussmeier was still on the board in the seventh round, they just couldn't resist, and with good reason.

Nussmeier's play regressed last season, but that was largely due to injury, as he attempted to play through a painful oblique injury that impacted his mechanics and overall effectiveness as a passer. If you go back to the 2024 tape, you see a passer with NFL tools who could have easily been a Day 2 pick had he stayed healthy and built on that success in 2025 instead of struggling through an injury.

Though he lacks ideal size for the position, Nussmeier's tape is full of pro-level throws that show the kind of anticipation, touch and accuracy necessary to be an effective starter at the next level. He doesn't have elite arm strength or athleticism, but he's strong enough in both areas to get the job done with the right supporting cast in the NFL.

On my board, Nussmeier barely fell outside of my fourth-round grades, and I thought I was much lower on him than the overall consensus. I never imagined I was still two rounds higher on him than the rest of the league.

Given where some of the other quarterbacks in this draft came off the board, the Chiefs landing Nussmeier in the seventh round was absolute robbery. I would much rather get him in that range than spend a first-round pick on Ty Simpson, or an early third-round pick on Carson Beck, or a third-round pick at all on Drew Allar, or an early fourth-round pick on Cade Klubnik. The fact that Behren Morton and Athan Kaliakmanis both came off the board ahead of Nussmeier was as surprising as anything else I saw throughout the whole draft weekend.

There's no denying how special Mahomes can be at full strength, but he's coming off a season-ending knee injury that occurred late in the year, so it's still unclear when he'll be back to 100 percent. Fields gives the Chiefs a quality backup with plenty of starting experience, as well as upside and a unique, versatile skill set, but he's had his own troubles staying healthy throughout his NFL career so far.

One of the most valuable things Nussmeier brings to the table is a ton of experience against top competition in the SEC, playing against high-end talent and some complex defensive schemes. He understands the nuances of the position at a high level, no doubt bolstered by his dad's long career in the coaching ranks. If ever a rookie seventh-round quarterback was forced into action due to injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, Nussmeier is the kind of guy you want in that spot. He may not have the elite physical traits and upside teams prefer in their young players, but he's got a fairly high floor as a prospect.

Beyond his value as a potential long-term backup and injury-required spot starter, having Nussmeier on the roster with a cheap four-year rookie contract gives the Chiefs a potentially valuable trade asset. Should another team look at him and see the potential for another Brock Purdy as a seventh-round pick with the ability to execute an offense at a high level despite a lack of high-end physical tools, Kansas City could end up getting a much higher pick for him than the seventh-rounder they just invested.

Even if he never sees a meaningful snap for the Chiefs, something they'd obviously prefer as Mahomes works his way back in hopes of returning them to perennial Super Bowl contention, it's hard to imagine a better use of such a late-round pick than stealing a quarterback who could prove worthy of a starting job. The Chiefs don't need that right now, but there will always be another team that does, and Nussmeier learning behind talented and experienced teammates like Mahomes and Fields (and in Andy Reid's offense) could prepare him to be a valuable trade target from another club desperate for a long-term upgrade at the game's most important position.