Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers plays against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Gus Stark/University Images via Getty Images}

University Images via Getty Images

As he was set to begin his first practice as a Kansas City Chiefs rookie, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier knew not to target wide receivers going against cornerback Mansoor Delane.

“I probably won’t throw his way,” Nussmeier said with a smile. “He’s a great player. It’s been cool to have him around, get to have a familiar face for sure.”

Nussmeier and Delane spent the 2025 season together at LSU.

Delane had two interceptions and 11 passes defended during the season, shining as one of the bright spots in the 7-6 season, which cost head coach Brian Kelly his job.

Nussmeier, though, was part of the reason that LSU didn’t live up to preseason expectations. After throwing for 4,502 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a junior, he regressed as a senior in 2025, posting fewer than 2,000 yards and just 12 touchdowns.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and I believe what I went through last year was meant to be,” he said. “Having gone through that, I’ve grown from it and I’ve become a better player, a better person, a better man and so I’m grateful for the struggle. I’m grateful to have gone through that because I know it’s going to help me going forward.”

An oblique injury was a major reason for his dip in performance and why the quarterback, who looked like a Day One or Day Two prospect after the 2024 season, slipped to the seventh round in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“He was the odds-on favorite to be one of the top quarterbacks taken this year,” Chiefs vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt said. “He was battling through an oblique that people didn’t know about that was bothering him the whole year. And if you’re a quarterback and you can’t torque your hips and bring your hips through, the ball maybe doesn’t come out with (as) much velocity as you want.”

Delane praised the leadership skills and competitiveness Nussmeier displayed at LSU.

With the Chiefs the rookie quarterback will learn from two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields, who has just one year left on the two-year contract he initially signed with the New York Jets.

So Nussmeier could eventually succeed Fields as the No. 2 quarterback down the line.

“We’re excited to have this kid,” Nutt said. “He’s going to be a developmental guy for us.”

While Nussmeier is a development project for the Chiefs, Delane, who Kansas City traded up to select at No. 6 overall, is slated to start right away because the Chiefs lost their top two cornerbacks from last year.

The Los Angeles Rams traded for former Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie and then made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, signing him to a four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed. Shortly thereafter, they also signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed.

McDuffie was perhaps at his best in the slot, but Delane could play inside or outside, and the Chiefs love his versatility.

“He can play off-man, press-man, zone,” Nutt said. “He is somebody that when you get an injury or something happens with maybe another player, you can move him around.”

Wherever he lines up, Delane was excited to begin the first day of the Chiefs’ three-day rookie minicamp.

“It feels good,” Delane said, “just to actually play football now and do I what I do.”