Entering the draft, Nussmeier was projected to be the third quarterback drafted. Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson were both first-round picks on Thursday. On Friday, most analysts thought Nussmeier would be the next passer to find a home.Instead, Drew Allar and Carson Beck were picked by the Steelers and Cardinals, respectively, while Nussmeier remained waiting for a call.The exact reasons for Nussmeier's slide are unclear.

Nussmeier underwhelmed in 2025 as he struggled with injuries and poor offensive line play, but Nussmeier was building momentum after strong performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Earlier this month, reporting revealed a cyst was responsible for Nussmeier's oblique pain throughout the 2025 season. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that doctors said there was "doctors say, there is no short- or long-term risk" for Nussmeier.

Former LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier underwent tests at the NFL combine that revealed a cyst on his spine — the root cause of the persistent oblique pain that derailed his 2025 season, sources say.The cyst was pressing on a nerve, causing discomfort in Nussmeier’s oblique. He has… pic.twitter.com/vG7iXFsleE— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 20, 2026Nussmeier's slide could be due to the injury concerns, or teams just not liking what they saw on tape in 2025. Nussmeier entered 2025 with Heisman hopes but LSU's offense sputtered.

As we enter day three of the draft, a few QB-needy teams could be willing to take a flier on Nussmeier. He's probably the best QB left on the board and it would be even more of a surprise to see Nussmeier slide much further. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football QB Garrett Nussmeier goes undrafted in first three rounds