An East St. Louis product who started every game across two seasons at Illinois before signing with Detroit as an undrafted free agent alongside his college quarterback.
Melvin Priestly started all 26 games he played over two seasons on the Illinois offensive line before going undrafted in 2026 and signing with the Detroit Lions, where he reunites with former Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he gives the Lions another developmental body along the offensive front.
Path to the league
A graduate of East St. Louis High School, Priestly played his college football at Illinois, where he became a full-time starter on the offensive line. He started all 26 games he appeared in for the Illini, giving him a reputation as a reliable, low-drama presence up front.
Career highlights
Priestly's calling card at Illinois was availability and consistency: he did not miss a start across his two seasons as the Illini's offensive tackle, helping anchor a line that supported quarterback Luke Altmyer's breakout run through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
2025 season recap
Priestly closed out his Illinois career in 2025 as a full-time starter before going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Detroit signed him as an undrafted free agent shortly after, inking him to a three-year, $3.1 million contract that reunited him with Altmyer in the Lions' quarterback room and offensive unit.
Sources
- ESPN: Melvin Priestly player page
- Yahoo Sports: Illinois' Melvin Priestly excited for NFL opportunity
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Illinois
- Hometown
- St. Louis, MO, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
