Why did Garrett Nussmeier slide to 7th?

Garrett Nussmeier’s draft slide ends with Chiefs landing

Garrett Nussmeier’s fall in the 2026 NFL Draft created a headline because he was once viewed as a much higher pick. Multiple entries in the provided set point to the core reason: injuries during his final LSU season.

Nussmeier ultimately landed in the back half of the draft, with Kansas City taking him in the seventh round. One story frames it as a sharp drop from expectations—describing him going from a “projected second-day” type of prospect to being selected near the end of the event.

What’s known from the stories

• Injury history at LSU mattered most: The most consistently cited explanation for the slide is that Nussmeier dealt with injuries in his final season.
• He was taken by the Chiefs after the slide: Kansas City used a late pick to select him, making the fall the dominant narrative as teams moved down the board.
• A major drop, not a small fall: The set repeatedly emphasizes how far he slipped, including selections landing close to the seventh round rather than earlier.

Why it matters

When a quarterback falls, teams must evaluate risk vs. reward beyond raw talent. For the Chiefs, the selection suggests they were comfortable enough with his medical and development profile to invest in a signal-caller with upside. For Nussmeier, the slide changes the path to roster opportunities: late-round quarterbacks typically need a shorter timetable to prove they can compete, especially when they join a room that already has veteran starters and established backups.