In addition to the seven selected players in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions have also added another nine rookies to their roster from the undrafted free agent (UDFA) market.
Last year, none of the Lions’ UDFAs made the initial roster, breaking a 15-year streak in which at least one undrafted rookie found a spot on the 53-man roster. Let’s take a closer look at the players who will be looking to start a new streak in Detroit in 2026.
Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Consensus Ranking: 242
Erik’s Rankings: 286
Altmyer began his career at Mississippi but transferred to Illinois after two seasons, finishing his final three years of college in Champaign. Over that time with the Illini, Altmyer was highly decorated, winning 23 of his 35 starts (second-most in team history) and posting a 64.4% completion percentage, 7,607 passing yards, 57 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions, along with 741 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Strengths
- Pocket passer
- Progression-based reads
- West Coast scheme experience
- Decisive decision maker
- Reads man and zone coverages well
- High football IQ
- Team captain (2025)
- Gamer — seven game-winning drives
- Excels as a timing-based passer
- Delivers with touch
- Athleticism to buy time — keeps eyes downfield
Weaknesses
- Adequate NFL arm strength — best throwing short and intermediate routes
- Deep routes lack strength and accuracy
- Inconsistent accuracy when pressured
- Footwork underdeveloped
- Arm slot non-traditional (side-arms throws)
- Shallow depth in his drop leads to a higher pressure rate
Altmyer was a draftable prospect on the consensus board, meaning there were several draft profiles on his skill set. Here are a few excerpts from some of the best:
- Dane Brugler, The Beast (The Athletic): “Altmyer is limited in areas but can be a point guard-style passer who distributes the ball quickly and efficiently. He can have a Taylor Heinicke-type NFL career, in the right situation.”
- Lance Zierlein (NFL.com): “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.”
- NFL Hall-of-Fame QB Kurt Warner broke down Altmyer’s game film: “Some really good things. You can see the second-level throws, you can see the different paces he’s able to put on some of those throws, you see the ability to process, and create plays. He’s got athletic traits, without a doubt. You saw him move a little bit; he’s got enough arm, all those things. You’d love to see him get more fluid, in terms of making those athletic, off-platform, when his feet aren’t with him type throws. But there are some really good things to like about Luke Altmyer.”
Miles Kitselman, TE, Tennessee
6-foot-5, 251 pounds
Erik’s Rankings: 269
After one season at a community college in Kansas, Kitselman’s play caught the attention of the SEC, and he transferred to Alabama for two seasons before finishing his career in Tennessee. After being a backup for the Tide, Kitselman started all 24 games over his two seasons in Knoxville.
Kitselman is known for his balance as a blocker and receiver. In 2025, he secured 26 receptions for 253 yards (9.7 average) and scored two touchdowns. He was primarily used as a TE-Y, and lined up “inline” or in the backfield on 77.2% of his snaps.
Strengths
- TE-Y (inline) with H-Back range
- NFL frame
- Balanced skill set
- Great run blocker
- Driving blocker
- Experienced route runner
- Effective on screens as a receiver and blocker
- Game speed is better than timed speed
- TE2 upside, TE4 floor
Weaknesses
- Hand technique will need refinement at the NFL level
- Drops have been an issue (5 in 2025)
- Lacks burst to separate out of breaks
- Limited YAC
Draft expert excerpts:
- Dane Brugler, The Beast (The Athletic): “Kitselman has overachieved at every level. His execution and mindset as a run blocker are the keys to him doing the same in the NFL.”
- Lance Zierlein (NFL.com): “Kitselman has good size and will play as a connected tight end on the next level… he’s willing to put in work in-line or as a move blocker… Kitselman has Day 3 draft value and
