When a top college quarterback slides all the way to the seventh round of the NFL Draft, heads turn. That's exactly what happened with Garrett Nussmeier, and one defensive coordinator who faced him is still shaking his head in disbelief.

The LSU standout, now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, was selected with the 249th overall pick—a fall that surprised many around the league. Speaking with ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, an anonymous Power 4 defensive coordinator didn't hold back: "Who knows why he fell so far, but I studied him, and that kid is a stud."

Nussmeier's draft slide can be traced back to a challenging 2025 season. An abdominal injury in November limited him to just nine games, where he threw for 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. But those numbers don't tell the full story. The year before, Nussmeier was a finalist for the Manning Award, recognizing the nation's top quarterback, after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in 13 games.

Adding to the intrigue, a cyst on his spine was discovered during NFL Combine medical testing—a revelation that may have spooked some teams. But for the Chiefs, known for finding value in later rounds, Nussmeier could be the latest diamond in the rough. Whether he's the heir apparent to Patrick Mahomes or a developmental project remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this is a player with the talent to outperform his draft position.