Chiefs Trade Up and Land LSU QB Nussmeier with Pick 249: 'Great Opportunity for Me'

The Kansas City Chiefs grabbed LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, using the No. 249 overall pick. The move came via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Nussmeier wasted no time hitting the podium to talk about what's next.

Late-Round Flyer on Nussmeier

When Nussmeier stepped up to the microphone after hearing his name called in Round 7, he kept it simple and fired up. "It's a great opportunity for me," he said, and you can bet the Chiefs saw something in tape that made this pick worth the trade with Pittsburgh. Taking a shot on a Tigers quarterback this late in the draft is classic Kansas City strategy: find the talent, find the value, and let the film do the talking.

Building the 2026 Squad

Nussmeier is just one piece of what the Chiefs have been building across this draft. Kansas City also brought in Cincinnati WR Cyrus Allen in Round 5 (Pick 176), Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson in Round 5 (Pick 161), and Oregon DB Jadon Canady in Round 4 (Pick 109). Allen made it clear what he brings to the table, telling reporters he's "a guy that's going to bring a lot of energy every day."

The draft class is shaping up to be a nice mix of skill position depth and defensive help. With Allen promising energy and Johnson providing backfield depth, the Chiefs are making calculated moves to strengthen the roster heading into the season.

What's Next

Nussmeier now enters a competitive environment to earn his spot. Kansas City is banking on that late-round pick turning into something special. It's the kind of gamble that either looks brilliant in a few years or becomes a forgotten footnote. Either way, the Tigers product has his shot with one of the league's most consistently sharp organizations.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.