Garrett Nussmeier continues to rise on 2025 NFL Draft boards as rest of QB class struggles
The 2025 quarterback class has endured some ups and downs throughout the season's first seven weeks thus far. That includes top names like Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Carson Beck. While each is still in the mix to land high in the first round, it's LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier who is earning a lot of […]
The 2025 quarterback class has endured some ups and downs throughout the season's first seven weeks thus far. That includes top names like Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Carson Beck. While each is still in the mix to land high in the first round, it's LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier who is earning a lot of attention.
The first-year starter has shown guts and poise throughout the start of this year. His impressive performance against Ole Miss wasn't perfect, but he made the big throws that franchise starters hit in the NFL. That includes game-tying and winning throws.
One NFL and NFL Draft expert for The 33rd Team named Nussmeier as the biggest riser of the week.
"Although he completed under half of his passes and threw two picks, 16 of those attempts were beyond 20 yards. He shed concerns that he was more of a game manager as he chased haymakers to combat what Ole Miss was throwing at him. His average target depth (ADoT) skyrocketed to 15.4 yards despite being pressured 21 times."
With a big-time throw rate twice his turnover-worthy throw rate, plus an ADoT over 10 for the season, Nussmeier is combining efficiency with timely big plays. His 22 completions on 51 attempts weren't impressive against Ole Miss, but consider the huge pressure rate the Rebels achieved.
ESPN also has Nussmeier rising up boards. They ranked him sixth in the class, projecting him to land early on Day 2.
In Year 1 as the starter at LSU, Nussmeier has played extremely well, throwing for 1,989 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is an anticipatory thrower who trusts his targets to get to their route depth on concepts and isn't hesitant to throw it to those spots.
Nussmeier, whose father, Doug, is the quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, doesn't take many sacks, as his sack-per-dropback rate (0.8%) ranks third in the FBS. He has been sacked only twice all season. He ranks 13th in QBR (82.1). He's always aware of his options in progressions. NFL scouts have been talking about Nussmeier as a potential riser in this class — if he continues improving.
On where he could improve most, Jordan Reid wrote, "While Nussmeier has been accurate in short and intermediate areas, he has yet to find his comfort zone on deep throws. Heading into Saturday's game, his 46.4 QBR when throwing to targets running vertically ranked 94th in the FBS. He has averaged 8.2 air yards per attempt (76th), and scouts want to see him take more shots down the field."
I have Nussmeier behind Sanders, Ward, and Jalen Milroe on my quarterback rankings. He and Beck are neck-and-neck with early Round 2 grades.
We'll see whether either can prove to be close to the cream of the crop of the 2025 class.
