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Steelers Land LSU Standout QB in Way-Too-Early Mock Draft
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- Steelers Land LSU Standout QB in Way-Too-Early Mock Draft
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Athletics
Field Yates of ESPN has the Pittsburgh Steelers landing LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at 16th overall in his way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft.
"This would be the second time in three years we saw six quarterbacks in the top half of Round 1. But hey, there are a lot of QB-needy teams picking early, and there are a lot of really good QB prospects potentially available. And Aaron Rodgers recently said this could be his last NFL season, probably making QB a primary need in Pittsburgh next offseason," Yates wrote.
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"Nussmeier — the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier — is like a point guard on the field, playing with elite processing skills and very good accuracy. He lacks dynamic athleticism and has just solid arm strength, but he is still able to deliver the ball on time and to spots where his receivers can create after the catch. Nussmeier — who is dealing with patellar tendinitis — threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns last season at LSU.
"One more QB prospect who could be in the mix: Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. He has an impressive ability to process and play under duress, and I saw some "wow" throws on tape."
Nussmeier, who stands at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and passer rating of 142.7 in his first season as a starter at LSU.
Eighteen-year NFL Scout and former director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, thought Nussmeier had the "highest ceiling in the NFL Draft" when it came to the quarterback class in 2025. Nussmeier decided to play another year at LSU, however.
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Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who also has the Steelers landing Nussmeier in the first round in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft, sees shades of Tony Romo in the LSU signal-caller.
"I see so much Tony Romo with him. Wouldn't be shocked at a similar career," Brugler wrote on X .
Garrett Nussmeier. Gus Stark / LSU Athletics
Todd McShay of The Ringer has Indiana dual-threat Fernando Mendoza landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 15th overall in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft. Mendoza continues to be mentioned as a rising player in next year's draft .
"Aaron Rodgers is a one-year solution, and sixth-round round pick Will Howard looks more like a good career backup than the quarterback of the future. Mendoza isn't there yet, but I saw a lot of positives — including a snappy release, excellent touch, and a plus arm — in his tape this summer," McShay wrote .
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McShay has four quarterbacks going in the first round — Clemson's Cade Klubnik to the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 overall, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier to the New York Jets at No. 4, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 and Mendoza to the Steelers at No. 15.
McShay projects that Penn State's Drew Allar will fall out of the first round, while Texas' Arch Manning will not declare for the draft.
Mendoza spent his first three seasons at California with the Golden Bears, where he posted over 3,000 passing yards in a breakout redshirt sophomore campaign. This past offseason, he entered the transfer portal and ultimately chose to take his talents to Indiana, where he'll suit up for the Hoosiers this fall. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds with a strong arm, Mendoza fits the mold of a traditional pocket passer but also brings underrated athleticism to the position.
Mendoza was Derrick Bell of Steelers Now's No. 1 QB coming out of early summer scouting .
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"The physical tools are intriguing: he's got good size and a howitzer for an arm, but his advanced feel for the game is what makes him most unique amongst his peers," Bell wrote. "So many of his best reps last season came in high-leverage situations with a less than stellar supporting cast. He's accurate, aspires to play on-time football from the pocket, all while still being athletic enough for the next level.
"There's obviously some projection baked in here with this sort of outlook. He needs to cut down on some of the negative plays, but you'd rather a young player try things and work through mistakes rather than have to be coaxed into aggressiveness down the line. Even if it requires a trade up into the top ten, the Steelers cannot afford to wait any longer to make a splash at the sport's most important position. No more half measures! With the NFL Draft in their own backyard , this has a chance to be one of the more iconic moments in recent memory."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Land LSU Standout QB in Way-Too-Early Mock Draft
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