2026 NFL Draft Thread

#301      
lstewart53x3
jamarvelous31 said:
The NFL.com scout opens with "Three-year starter with solid passing production relative to the lack of protection he saw in 2025" so yes, it impacted the perception of the player.

He was the #10 transfer QB when he came and a top 200 player out of HS. Would've been a top 2 QB this offseson...not like he was a diamond in the rough. Those 7,600 yards and 57 TDs in the B1G instead got him labeled as the 16th most productive QB and a game manager.

It's wild that saying "a better line and a D that put him in favorable spots would help the perception of the player" is controversial.
Click to expand...
Well, that’s not what you said originally, your exact quote was:

“Still feel like the staff let Altmyer down this year.”

Could the o-line have been better? Absolutely.

Was Altmyer responsible for a large percentage of his sacks because he held the ball too long? Unfortunately, yes.

Luke wasn’t drafted because of his size and arm strength. Not because of the o-line he played behind.

He was more productive than Drew Allar, yet Allar was drafted because of his measurables.

The staff, imo, didn’t let Altmyer down and if anything, was a huge part of his growth and development, which is why Luke stuck around his final year instead of securing more NIL elsewhere.
 
Last edited:
#302      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
jamarvelous31 said:
It's easy to be underwhelmed by Franklin's coaching, but talentwise he still threw to a top TE in 24 & 25, a 5th round WR, was behind a bunch of NFL linemen and had some great RBs.

He definitely had more talent around him, if only on paper, than what Altmyer had.
Click to expand...

Right but my point was more that the system that Allar played in wasn't really a pass first NFL style offense. Yes, he had quite a bit of 4 and 5 star talent around him but the offense he was playing in was more focused on running the ball first.
 
#303      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
And since so many people have been bringing it up, this is the NFL.com draft analysis on Altmyer:

Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA

Overview​

Three-year starter with solid passing production relative to the lack of protection he saw in 2025. Altmyer has experience in pro passing concepts and shows decent eye discipline/patience to give the play a chance. He throws with adequate anticipation into zone windows but a slower operation time and lack of arm talent hurt his chances of beating tight man coverage. Edge pressure sneaks up on him and he hasn’t learned to avoid sacks often enough. Altmyer could have a tough time beating out pro backups for a roster spot.

Strengths​

  • Three-year starter and team captain.
  • Has plenty of experience in pro passing concepts.
  • Patient to wait out the route development.
  • Throws with adequate timing into intermediate windows.
  • Good eye manipulation to move zone defenders away from his target.
  • Keeps eyes alive and searching for a completion when scrambling.

Weaknesses​

  • Below-average size, arm talent and drive velocity.
  • Low arm slot makes him susceptible to batted passes.
  • Exaggerated pre-throw ball pat slows his operation time.
  • Can be a step slow to hit open receivers in stride.
  • Accuracy issues appear tied to a lack of discipline with footwork.
  • Inconsistent poise in the face of real or simulated pressure looks.
 
#304      
Mr. Tibbs
Allars problems weren’t his team mates . Allars problems were his own . It seems to be problematic at the school re QB’s
 
#305      
BretMyBeachHouse
Second place is 1st loser said:
Actually, once the frustration of not being drafted comes and goes, he'll realize that it's a MUCH better situation to pick a team where there's a path to playing time vs a team you because you were available and hey, why not take a QB.

The only bummer, if there is one, is that I'm not sure what they pay difference is between being drafted in the 7th round vs signing as a free agent.
Click to expand...
Actually, with no contract guarantees i doubt it matters.
 
#306      
EyeoftheIllini
My day was made a little sunnier upon reading that the Bears have the Hefty Lefty and the Vanilla Gorilla coming in for rookie camp.
 
#307      
OrangeBlue98
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
And since so many people have been bringing it up, this is the NFL.com draft analysis on Altmyer:

Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA

Overview​

Three-year starter with solid passing production relative to the lack of protection he saw in 2025. Altmyer has experience in pro passing concepts and shows decent eye discipline/patience to give the play a chance. He throws with adequate anticipation into zone windows but a slower operation time and lack of arm talent hurt his chances of beating tight man coverage. Edge pressure sneaks up on him and he hasn’t learned to avoid sacks often enough. Altmyer could have a tough time beating out pro backups for a roster spot.

Strengths​

  • Three-year starter and team captain.
  • Has plenty of experience in pro passing concepts.
  • Patient to wait out the route development.
  • Throws with adequate timing into intermediate windows.
  • Good eye manipulation to move zone defenders away from his target.
  • Keeps eyes alive and searching for a completion when scrambling.

Weaknesses​

  • Below-average size, arm talent and drive velocity.
  • Low arm slot makes him susceptible to batted passes.
  • Exaggerated pre-throw ball pat slows his operation time.
  • Can be a step slow to hit open receivers in stride.
  • Accuracy issues appear tied to a lack of discipline with footwork.
  • Inconsistent poise in the face of real or simulated pressure looks.
Click to expand...
I’d imagine the issues with footwork, arm slot, and ball patting can be corrected with good coaching. The first point is just reality. The last point will probably be the determining factor for Luke’s NFL career.
 
#309      
TheChief4Life
ChiefGritty said:
Bert has done an excellent job and deserves his flowers, but that list looks very different if it's by who recruited those players.

Lovie brought a ton of NFL talent into the program and Beckman/Cubit brought next to none. (Among draftees it's only Jihad Ward, Nick Allegretti, Dawuane Smoot, Clayton Fejedelem who was a walk-on and Ke'Shawn Vaughn who we underused and forced out, right?)
Click to expand...
I'm too lazy to, so make that list for us, please.
 
Back