Field Yates dropped his preseason 2026 NFL mock draft, which has six quarterbacks going in the first round. It’s early, but if Yates is correct, this would be the second time in three drafts where we see six quarterbacks go in Round 1.
The final of the six is LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who Yates has going 16th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would make sense for a team still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback. Nussmeier is a talented pocket passer with a career 140.4 rating who can drastically improve his draft stock with a solid 2025 campaign.
Field Yates Has Garrett Nussmeier as a 2026 First-Rounder
Nussmeier is a bit of a polarizing prospect as we head into the 2025 college football season. While Yates has him as the 16th overall pick, a recent Sports Illustrated mock draft had him going No. 1 overall. In contrast, a mock draft from Bleacher Report back in April didn’t have him in the first round at all.
Yates joined SportsCenter to discuss his evaluation of Nussmeier ahead of their season opener in Clemson. His overall analysis was that Nussmeier is “a very good processor that throws with great anticipation and excellent accuracy as well.”
That accuracy was on full display last season, as he finished 2024 with a 64.2 percent completion rate on 525 attempts. Continuing to deliver to his receivers on time will be critical for his draft stock, because, as Yates points out, as a limited athlete (he has negative rushing yards in his collegiate career), Nussmeier is at his best from the pocket.
“This is the kind of guy that really operates at his best from the pocket. Not a super dynamic athlete, but certainly good enough to have the attention of NFL scouts,” said Yates.
One area Nussmeier will need to improve in this season is his turnovers. Last season, his 12 interceptions put him in a three-way tie with Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Georgia’s Carson Beck for most in the SEC. Being a pocket quarterback in the age of super dynamic, off-script QB play isn’t impossible, but limiting mistakes is a must. For a guy whose strength is making smart plays and being on time, scouts are looking for improvement here.
Nussmeier was recently awarded the jersey number 18, a legendary number in Baton Rouge, which is a sign of what LSU thinks of its starting quarterback. In his first full year as a starter, he amassed 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 142.7 rating. Yates views him as a first-round prospect, but his play on the field this season will ultimately determine where he’s drafted next April.