LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier might have just become the favorite for the Saints’ quarterback job in 2026 without lifting a finger
On Saturday, Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints shocked the NFL world with news that the 11-year veteran would medically retire from the league following a shoulder injury.
It sets up a 2025 NFL offseason quarterback battle between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough in New Orleans, but the move also shifts focus to the 2026 NFL Draft, which is rife with quarterback prospects. While names like Texas QB Arch Manning, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik, South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers, and Penn State QB Drew Allars will dominate the conversation, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier stands out for a few reasons.
Perhaps most notably, he returned to the Tigers for the 2025 college football season despite being eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer had this to say back in February when Nussmeier decided to return to LSU: “I’ve spoken with scouts who believe Nussmeier would’ve been the first quarterback taken this year had he declared.”
Whether that’s true or not, we’ll never know. However, we know that Nussmeier has a clear goal of following in the footsteps of Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels by showing marked improvement in his final season at LSU. But there’s something more to this than simply his drive. . .
Why LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier could quickly become the favorite for the Saints
Beyond being a quarterback at Louisiana State University, Garrett has new familial ties to the New Orleans Saints that could be influential here. When Klint Kubiak left for the Seattle Seahawks, the Saints hired Philadelphia Eagles QB coach Doug Nussmeier as their offensive coordinator. Doug is Garrett’s father and a former New Orleans Saints quarterback, serving in a reserve capacity behind Jim Everett and others from 1994-1997.
Nepotism isn’t the best way to run an NFL franchise, but pairing the younger Nussmeier with his father could be an exciting combination for New Orleans. In his first full season as a starter at LSU, Garrett completed 64% of his passes for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he’s got some things to prove about how his frame can hold up and whether or not he can be an effective runner and passer out of structure. However, if he can improve as a starter in 2026, the league will surely think highly of him in the 2026 NFL Draft.
