2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Luke Altmyer, Quarterback, Illinois
· Yahoo Sports
With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few short months away, we are taking a deep dive into the scouting profiles for the prospects in this class. Today, we are taking a look at Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. Altmyer has some tools to his game that easily translate to the next level, but does he have enough raw potential to elevate a franchise and take over? Let's talk about it.
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Altmyer, a former four-star prospect out of Starville High School in Starkville, Mississippi, originally committed to Ole Miss, staying home for two seasons before transferring to Illinois for his final three seasons. In 2024, he would earn a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award class and All-Big Ten honorable mention. During his time at Illinois, he would throw for 7,607 yards, a TD/INT ratio of 57/21, and a completion percentage of 64.3%
What sticks out about the game of Luke Altmyer is his ability to break down coverages and make the proper adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He can quickly call out defenses and change plays and protections if need be. Going through progressions is a plus. He can quickly scan the field for the open man and knows when to abandon a pocket if no one is open. Altmyer has a pretty deep ball, with enough arm to push down the field. He also showed vast improvement in his touch when throwing to the first and second levels.
Altmyer can take a hit, no doubt about it, but with his smaller frame at just 205 lbs, can he withstand NFL-level hits on a weekly basis? It's going to be a major concern within front offices. The arm strength we discussed is better than some, but it would not be considered one of the strongest arms in the class. Upper body mechanics break down under pressure in the pocket, resulting in high throws that can lead to interceptions.
Luke Altmyer reminds me of a player like Ryan Tannehill, which you can take how you will. He will stand in there and take hits, deliver good balls with a clean pocket, but not totally sure he is more than a game manager. With that being said, Altmyer gets a sixth-round grade and would be someone teams could take a flier on to develop into a serviceable backup over time.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois