Luke Altmyer
Getty
Quarterback Luke Altmyer is headed to the NFL Draft.
Luke Altmyer spent two years watching from behind Matt Corral and Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss before betting on himself with a transfer to Illinois in January 2023.
Three seasons later, the quarterback from Starkville, Mississippi, has worked his way onto NFL draft boards and into a conversation about playing in one of the league’s most interesting QB rooms.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid, in his updated QB Hot Board published on April 5, named the San Francisco 49ers as Altmyer’s best fit. It’s a pairing that makes sense on multiple levels considering the state of the Niners’ depth chart and what Altmyer does well as a passer.
“Altmyer is a true point guard who gets the ball out in a hurry, spreads it around and is a swift processor of opposing defenses,” Reid wrote, adding: “He can play from under center or in the shotgun, operates well off play-action and can read out leveled concepts. He can also run when opportunities present themselves, showing the escapability and quickness to outrace first- and second-level defenders.”
A Closer Look Why QB Luke Altmyer Could Be a Draft Target for the San Francisco 49ers
Luke Altmyer
GettyThe San Francisco 49ers have been named the best fit for former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer in the 2026 NFL draft.
Altmyer committed to Ole Miss over offers from Alabama, Florida State and LSU, but he never won the starting job. He lost the competition to Dart ahead of the 2022 season and entered the transfer portal that November. He landed at Illinois and was named QB1 ahead of the 2023 opener, and he never looked back.
His first year in Champaign was uneven. In nine games, Altmyer threw for 1,883 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions before an injury ended his season. But his growth from there was steady and measurable. In 2024, he led Illinois to a 9-3 record with four game-winning drives, throwing for just over 2,700 yards and 22 TDs. He finished 2025 with 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns while tossing just five interceptions.
“At the Senior Bowl, Altmyer displayed why many teams have interest in him as a later-round option. He kept the offense on schedule with efficiency, throwing in rhythm and showing the mobility to escape the pocket and make plays happen outside it,” Reid wrote, adding:
“Many evaluators I spoke to last season mentioned him as one of their top candidates to be a late-round dart throw who could become a decade-plus backup quarterback in the NFL.”
Could Mac Jones Get Traded During the 2026 NFL Draft?
The question of whether San Francisco would even need a developmental quarterback depends largely on Mac Jones. Jones started eight games for an injured Brock Purdy in 2025, completing 69.6 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while the team went 5-3 in his starts. That stat line has made Jones the subject of trade rumors for months.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said in January he would be “very surprised” if Jones wasn’t back, and GM John Lynch said at the combine it would take a “fairly strong” offer to pry him loose. So, what if a team with a good offer gives Lynch a call during the draft? Lynch did leave the door somewhat open.
If the 49ers do trade Jones, drafting Altmyer would give Shanahan a cheap, scheme-friendly backup behind Purdy. If they keep Jones, Altmyer could still develop as QB3 behind two veterans. We’ll see how it all shakes out.