Lions signed Illinois QB Luke Altmyer.

26 April 2026

Altmyer (6’2”/210) is a fifth-year prospect who got his start at Ole Miss before transferring to Illinois in 2023. The former four-star recruit won the job as Illinois’ starter in his first season with the team, and finished the season with a 1,877-13-10 line in nine games, with an injury cutting his season short. He rebounded in 2024, throwing for 2,717-22-6 in 13 games, and had similar production in 2025 (3,007-22-5), posting a career-high 67.4 completion percentage. Altmyer is an above-average athlete at the position and posted a 4.72 40-yard dash at the combine, but he’s also a bit undersized with only average arm talent. His high sack totals at Illinois (95 sacks in 35 games) can be partially blamed on his offensive line, which consistently graded as one of the worst pass-blocking units in the nation during his time there, but there are times he would have benefited from taking off and running rather than trying to extend the play. His inability to avoid sacks is a major concern. Like most QBs who have passed through Illinois as of late, Altymer’s production doesn’t stand out, and there are plenty of concerns about his accuracy and how it will translate to the next level. Altmyer will likely spend most of his NFL career, however long that may be, battling for spots on 53-man rosters.