Jets explore 2026 NFL draft QB options with Garrett Nussmeier visit

The New York Jets have made one thing clear throughout the pre-draft process. They are doing their homework at quarterback, and they aren’t limiting themselves to the names everyone else is talking about.

Much of the attention has centered on players like Drew Allar and Carson Beck. Draft wiz Daniel Jeremiah recently drew lines connecting Allar and the Jets. That makes sense. Both are the prospects dominating headlines and mock drafts, but as New York continues to evaluate options, another name has quietly entered the conversation, and it may be one worth watching closely.

According to NBC Sports’ Ryan Fowler, former LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has recently held private workouts with multiple teams, including the Jets. That detail matters.

The Jets don’t hand out private workouts casually, especially at a position as important as quarterback. This is a franchise that has spent years searching for stability under center. Even with Geno Smith back in place and publicly backed by head coach Aaron Glenn, the long-term question hasn’t gone away. Nussmeier represents a different kind of option.

He isn’t being discussed as a top-five pick. He may not even hear his name called on Day 1. But that’s part of the appeal. Like Allar, he fits the mold of a developmental prospect who can be brought along at the right pace. There’s no pressure to start immediately. There’s room to grow.

And that’s where things get interesting. With three picks inside the top 33, the Jets may not force a quarterback selection early. No one knows for sure, not even them, but everyone has tried their hand at foretelling some sort of strategy.

They can build the roster first and circle back when the value aligns. If Nussmeier is still available on Day 2, or even later, he becomes the type of calculated swing this organization hasn’t always made.