When Detroit Lions rookies report to training camp on July 25, undrafted quarterback Luke Altmyer won't be the biggest name in attendance, but his performance over the next month-plus might be the most consequential.
The long NFL offseason is nearing its end, and while Detroit is comfortably set at quarterback heading into 2026 with Jared Goff as its starter and Teddy Bridgewater serving as backup, Altmyer could force the Lions to carry three on the roster with a big preseason.
The 2025 All-Big Ten honorable mention played at Illinois over the past three seasons (2023-25) after spending his freshman and redshirt sophomore seasons at Ole Miss as a member of the 2021 high-school quarterback class that also included future NFL first-round picks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jaxson Dart and J.J. McCarthy.
Altmyer started 35 games since transferring to Illinois in 2023 and posted career-highs in completion percentage (67.4 percent) and passing yards last season while throwing 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 7,607 passing yards for the Illini are the fifth-most in program history, and he ranks second in passing touchdowns (57).
UDFA Luke Altmyer could be a major domino in Lions roster configuration
In MLive.com's training camp preview, Lions reporter Benjamin Raven assessed Altmyer's chances of cracking the 53-man roster, noting he "should be a great fit for the team's style of play with his experience reading defenses, leading a unit and impressive accuracy."
"He might be a longshot for a roster spot," Raven, who ultimately predicts Altmyer to fail to make the cut, added, but the quarterback "should get plenty of chances and put himself in position for... a spot on the practice squad."
With a strong preseason, however, Altmyer could draw another team's attention and not clear waivers. And holding onto three quarterbacks is a luxury the Lions might not be able to afford. Detroit's been hit hard with injuries in recent seasons and may need the roster spot for an offensive lineman, edge-rusher or defensive back.
But keeping Altmyer has its own advantages. As important as quarterbacks are, any that shows promise will be attractive to other teams, making Altmyer a potential asset on the trade market. If the Lions could turn the undrafted prospect into a future draft pick, that would be a win.
Detroit has more pressing offseason concerns, most notably at cornerback following former first-round pick Terrion Arnold's release. Jahmyr Gibbs is extension-eligible and could be a hold-in (or hold-out) candidate while awaiting a deal that may reset the running back market. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley ($20.6M) is the league's highest-paid back on a per-year basis and the only one earning more than $20M per year.
Edge-rusher is another area to watch closely as the team looks to replace Al-Quadin Muhammad's production from a season ago, when finishing the year with a career-high 11 sacks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him in free agency, leaving D.J. Wonnum, who had three sacks for the Carolina Panthers in 2025, as the projected starter at defensive end alongside two-time Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson. Rookie second-rounder Derrick Moore, a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, could alter those plans.
He's not the only first-year player who can make waves during Lions camp and the preseason. Altmyer should gain plenty of in-game reps with Goff not playing in the past three preseasons, creating an opportunity where Detroit feels required to carry three quarterbacks.
The trickle-down effect of such a decision could be substantial, leaving the team with less depth in other areas. But depending on how Altmyer performs, the Lions might not have a choice.
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