Garrett Nussmeier will be returning to college football for one last dance this year. He was going pro after 2024 itself, but decided to forgo the draft at the end, choosing to complete “unfinished business,” as many say. His last year of eligibility will help improve his stock in next year’s draft. While he is slated to create some more of that ‘Gunslinger’ magic this year, could it be that all of his efforts go to vain when he goes to the pro leagues in 2026?
Nussmeier, with his imposing total of 5,673 receiving yards, looks good to be clinching a series of honors this year. He’s already the top betting favorite for the 2025 Heisman Trophy. He is a crucial piece of the puzzle for LSU’s successful campaign this year, hoping to make it big with his risky plays. However, Garrett Nussmeier’s fame and numbers do not qualify him to be selected among the top prospects in the 2026 draft. That’s much unlike his contemporaries, who make it to the list instead of him.
The 33rd Team released their early predictions of the top 8 picks of a 2026 mock draft. We know that the draft is going to have quite a number of QBs in it. And Nussmeier is easily one of the biggest names in that group. However, the list keeps him out of that bracket. Instead, it features QBs LaNorris Sellers, Drew Allar, and even Arch Manning, who will still have a year of eligibility left after 2026. It seldom happens that a Heisman-favorite doesn’t feature at the top of mock drafts. Is it possible that Nussmeier will get a taste of what happened with Shedeur Sanders this year?
Predicting 2026’s First Round, one year in advance
QBs feature heavily in the Top 8⃣ pic.twitter.com/ODKbzVG4SM
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) May 3, 2025
From now on, Nussmeier is missing out on a top-10 place. The Athletic sees him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 16th pick. It also puts him as the 4th best QB, behind Arch Manning, Sellers, and Allar. That hesitance around Nussmeier is something the QB will have to seriously fight off going into next season. Scouts want him because of that cannon arm. But they’re also keeping a distance because of his tendency to lead to turnovers, and his pressure-situation problems.
QBs are once again seeming to be the most common position available in the 2026 draft. Nussmeier will be a key name in that class, but he’s got to keep those flaws from showing so evidently this season to get to a higher place in the draft. It’s going to be quite the dilemma for Nussmeier in the pro league. What’s even more brutal is that Allar is predicted to go to the Saints at No. 3, where Nussmeier’s father, Doug, is a QB coach.
Meanwhile, how did LaNorris Sellers manage to go as the No. 1 pick in this mock draft?
Where LaNorris Sellers one-ups Garrett Nussmeier
LaNorris Sellers has only 2,620 receiving yards from his two CFB seasons. That’s a third of what Nussmeier already has. Sellers is a face that’s cemented the Gamecocks as a notable playoff-contending program. While Nussmeier has begun slipping in mock drafts, Sellers still features among the top 5 picks even. Unlike the LSU QB, Sellers has been able to instill an air of confidence around him for experts to see.
Sellers considered going to the portal in the winter months of 2024. But he decided to come back for good and rejuvenated the offense. Of South Carolina’s 9 wins, Norris produced 6 in a streak towards the end. Sports Illustrated names Sellers as one of the top QBs entering 2025, particularly because of his “ability to grow.” Like Nussmeier, Sellers also has trouble with turnovers. But he was able to get a hold of that problem within the season. Added to that are his running ability and pocket skills that keep Sellers in the top picks for mock drafts.
Also like Manning, Sellers will have one more year of eligibility still left after the 2026 season. However, it’s a fact that should push Nussmeier to work on himself. This is the LSU QB’s only chance to shake off the doubts that surround his talent, while his far younger competitors still have time to work if things don’t go as planned. Can Garrett Nussmeier one day give a proper comeback to this mock draft snub?
The post Garrett Nussmeier’s NFL Future in Jeopardy as 2,620-Yard Rival Named Serious Threat to LSU QB’s Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.
