LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier entered the 2025 college football season likely to become a top NFL draft pick.

Nussmeier struggled through nine games before ending his season with severe abdominal and oblique pain. Meanwhile, LSU finished 7-6. That cost head coach Brian Kelly his job midseason and ended with new coach Lane Kiffin assuming control.

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Now, NFL teams have clarity on the source of Nussmeier’s injury with the 2026 NFL Draft just three days away.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Nussmeier was diagnosed with a spine cyst after tests done at the NFL scouting combine.

“The cyst was pressing on a nerve, causing discomfort in Nussmeier’s oblique. He has been asymptomatic since just prior to the Senior Bowl and all throughout the draft process,” Pelissero posted on X. “If that changes down the road, Nussmeier could undergo a minimally invasive procedure and miss just 2-3 weeks while stitches heal.”

Nussmeier completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. In 2024, he connected on 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Nussmeier as a third-round pick and compared him to Seattle Seahawks backup Drew Lock.

“Nussmeier is inconsistent diagnosing coverages and working through progressions, which limits his ability to counter what defenses show him,” Zierlein wrote. “He plays with a gunslinger’s mindset and doesn’t consistently prioritize ball security.

“He will make a throw that makes you a believer in one series, but he often follows that up with a turnover that reignites the doubt. … Teams will need to balance Nussmeier’s mistakes and durability concerns against his potential to improve on his LSU output.”

Finally, the 2026 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh on ESPN, NFL Network and the ESPN app.