The Green Bay Packers had their eyes on a quarterback prospect who unexpectedly slipped through the draft, but the Kansas City Chiefs swooped in before they could make a move. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Packers were interested in signing LSU's Garrett Nussmeier as an undrafted free agent, but the Chiefs selected him at No. 249 overall in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Nussmeier entered the draft as one of the top quarterback prospects, trailing only first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. However, his stock took a hit after the NFL Scouting Combine revealed a cyst on his spine—a medical red flag that likely explains why a player many projected as a Day 2 pick lasted until the final round.

The Packers, who traded up to select Florida kicker Trey Smack, didn't have a seventh-round pick at the time. They originally held pick No. 236, which could have been used on Nussmeier had they not moved up. Instead, the LSU standout will head to Kansas City, where he'll have a chance to develop as the future backup behind Patrick Mahomes.

Nussmeier's 2024 season was impressive, with 29 touchdown passes and over 4,000 passing yards in 13 starts. But the 2025 campaign was marred by abdominal issues—likely related to the cyst—and patella tendon tendinitis, limiting him to just nine games, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

With Nussmeier off the board, the Packers pivoted to Virginia Tech's Kyron Drones, a three-year starter who visited Green Bay before the draft. Drones brings a strong arm and elite athleticism, offering a Malik Willis-like profile, though he'll need significant development. While Nussmeier is more polished as a pure passer, Drones' dual-threat capability gives the Packers an intriguing project behind Jordan Love.

Fowler also mentioned Anthony Richardson as a potential target for Green Bay. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback is expected to be traded, and the Packers' coaching staff—rooted in the McVay-Shanahan-LaFleur tree—could be an ideal fit to help him reach his potential.