The Green Bay Packers were interested in a free-falling quarterback prospect as an undrafted free agent, but the Kansas City Chiefs took him off the board in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL draft. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Packers had interest in LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier if he went undrafted, but the Chiefs ended up taking him at No. 249 overall.
The Packers ended up signing Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, who visited Green Bay before the draft, as an undrafted free agent.
Nussmeier entered the 2026 draft as one of the top quarterback prospects behind first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Tests at the NFL Scouting Combine revealed a cyst on his spine, per NFL Network, which could provide a medical reason why a quarterback many thought would be a Day 2 pick ended up lasting until deep into the seventh round.
The Packers did not have a seventh-round pick after trading up to get Florida kicker Trey Smack. They had a pick at No. 236 overall, so Nussmeier could have been an option had the Packers not moved up.
Instead of going to Green Bay to compete to back up Jordan Love, Nussmeier is heading to Kansas City with a chance to be the future No. 2 behind Patrick Mahomes.
In 2024, Nussmeier threw 29 touchdown passes and produced over 4,000 passing yards over 13 starts. He was hampered by abdominal issues, likely stemming from the cyst, and patella tendon tendinitis, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic, during the 2025 season. He played in only nine games.
With Nussmeier going to the Chiefs, the Packers signed Drones, a three-year starter at Virginia Tech with a good arm and elite athleticism. Nussmeier is likely further along as a pure quarterback, but Drones provides a more Malik Willis-like profile, although significant development is required.
Fowler also mentioned Anthony Richardson, who is likely to be traded by the Indianapolis Colts, as a possibility, given Richardson is looking for a coach from the McVay-Shanahan-LaFleur tree to help him develop.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Report: Packers were interested in QB who was drafted by Chiefs in seventh round
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
