Carson Beck was first QB taken after none in 2nd RD
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published April 25, 2026, 9:38 AM
We enter the final day of the NFL Draft where names are called, dreams are realized, and it all concludes with “Mr. Irrelevant” at pick No. 257.
With 156 selections remaining, one of the most recognizable prospects still on the board is former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
The quarterback run already began to shape itself late on Day 2. The Arizona Cardinals selected Carson Beck out of Miami (FL) with the first pick of the third round at No. 65. Eleven selections later, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned in the card for Drew Allar out of Penn State—sparking a roar from the Pittsburgh crowd gathered outside Acrisure Stadium.
Now, Nussmeier waits.
The New York Jets sit at No. 103 the third pick of the fourth round. It’s a pivotal moment. They could take Nussmeier… or risk another quarterback-needy team pulling the trigger first.
Nussmeier’s college résumé backs the intrigue. At LSU, he showed command in a pro-style system, throwing for over 3,800 yards with 28 touchdowns in his final season while completing nearly 64% of his passes. He earned All-SEC recognition, flashing touch, anticipation, and the willingness to push the ball downfield. He’s not a finished product, but the arm talent and confidence are there.
And that’s where the conversation gets real.
The Jets’ current quarterback room of Geno Smith, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe does little to galvanize belief that a long-term answer is already in place. It’s functional, but it lacks upside.
That’s why, as unconventional as it may sound, adding a young arm with developmental traits carries weight here. A fourth-round investment is low risk, high reward. And if Smith struggles early, the noise will build quickly.
Jets fans don’t just want stability. They want hope.
And a player like Nussmeier brings exactly that whether he’s ready or not.
Four Teams That Could Target Garrett Nussmeier on Day 3
New York Jets
The Jets sit in one of the more fascinating quarterback situations entering Day 3, not because of what they have, but because of what they don’t.
Geno Smith provides veteran experience and can stabilize an offense, but at this stage of his career, he’s a known commodity. There’s value in that, but there’s also a ceiling. Behind him, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe round out the room, and neither profiles as a long-term developmental solution with meaningful upside. Cook brings athleticism, Zappe brings system familiarity, but neither changes the trajectory of the position group.
That’s where Nussmeier enters the picture.
The Jets are not in a position where they must take a quarterback but that’s exactly why they should consider it. There’s no pressure to rush him onto the field, yet there’s also no entrenched future starter blocking his path. That combination is rare. It creates a scenario where a fourth-round quarterback could realistically climb the depth chart within a season.
From a roster-building standpoint, this is the ideal time to take the swing. The Jets have filled major needs elsewhere. Day 3 becomes about value, and Nussmeier represents value if the staff believes in his arm talent and developmental curve.
The risk lies in passing on him.
Quarterback-needy teams later in the round—or even early in Round 5—could easily justify selecting him based on upside alone. And once he’s gone, the remaining options are likely shifts toward camp arms rather than legitimate developmental prospects.
The Jets don’t need a quarterback to survive 2026. But they do need one to evolve beyond it.
That’s the difference.
Detroit Lions
On paper, the Lions appear stable at quarterback. Jared Goff remains the unquestioned starter, and Teddy Bridgewater provides a veteran presence behind him. It’s a room built for reliability.
But it’s also a room built entirely in the present.
Goff has proven he can lead a high-functioning offense, but his long-term outlook is tied to performance consistency and contract considerations. Bridgewater, meanwhile, is a short-term solution a steady hand, but not a developmental piece.
And that’s the key issue: there is no developmental pipeline.
The Lions are one injury away from turning to a quarterback who is not part of their future. That’s not a knock on Bridgewater it’s simply the reality of his role at this stage of his career. He’s insurance, not investment.
Garrett Nussmeier changes that equation.
Adding a quarterback with upside on Day 3 allows Detroit to begin thinking beyond the immediate window. It doesn’t disrupt the current structure, but it introduces competition and future flexibility. Nussmeier wouldn’t be expected to play early, but he would benefit from learning in a stable offensive environment with established weapons and coaching continuity.
From a roster construction standpoint, this is about balance. The Lions have built a contender. Now they need to sustain it.
Quarterback depth is part of that sustainability.
Passing on a player like Nussmeier leaves them with a gap one that may not be felt immediately, but could surface quickly if circumstances change. Day 3 is where teams insulate themselves against those scenarios.
Detroit has done everything right in building its roster.
This is about making sure it stays that way.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos have optimism at quarterback—and rightfully so. Bo Nix showed signs of becoming a legitimate starter, providing efficiency and command within the offense.
But the depth behind him tells a different story.
Nix’s postseason injury highlighted by a broken ankle that forced Jarrett Stidham into action, and the results were uneven. Stidham has experience, but he has yet to demonstrate the ability to consistently lead an offense over extended stretches. Sam Ehlinger rounds out the room, but at this stage, he profiles more as a camp competitor than a developmental solution.
That’s where the concern lies.
The Broncos have a potential starter. What they don’t have is a safety net with upside.
Garrett Nussmeier offers that.
He’s not a finished product, but he brings arm talent, confidence, and enough production at LSU to warrant a developmental investment. In Denver, he wouldn’t be asked to carry the offense. He would be asked to learn, develop, and provide competition behind Nix.
That competition matters.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
