As expected, Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt heard his name called during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The All-American left tackle was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers with the fifth overall pick on April 25, becoming the Irish’s 71st first-round selection.
Alt might just be the most pro-ready player in his class in this year’s NFL Draft. A finalist for the 2023 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, Alt has proven himself as an elite player over the last two seasons for the Irish. His play last year as a junior was nothing short of dominant. His standout season earned him unanimous All-America honors, becoming the first Irish lineman since Quenton Nelson in 2017 to earn unanimous honors. Alt allowed just one sack in 2023.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper wrote in his mock draft ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, “Alt was the definition of a stalwart on the left side of Notre Dame’s line, where he started 33 games. He gave up just two sacks over the past two seasons.”
NFL Pedigree for Joe Alt
Alt boasts NFL bloodlines. His father, John Alt, played tight end for two seasons at Iowa before switching to tackle and ultimately becoming a first-round draft pick in 1984. John played 13 seasons at left tackle with the Kansas City Chiefs and was a two-time Pro Bowler.
In addition to his pedigree, Alt has attracted much attention from NFL executives because of his league-ready attributes. A massive 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, Alt towers over other offensive tackles. In addition to his size, he is extremely agile. A four-star recruit out of Minneapolis, Alt saw time at tight end and on the offensive line as a freshman at Notre Dame before becoming a star at left tackle. In 2023, Alt anchored an Irish offense led by running back Audric Estime and quarterback Sam Hartman. The Irish offense ranked 12th in the country with 5.3 yards per carry. The unit ranked 21st in the nation with just 1.3 sacks allowed per game.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly, who recruited Alt during his days at Notre Dame, raved about Alt on NFL Network on Thursday. “Joe Alt is a terrific athlete. Everybody is pretty clear that he is the top tackle (in the draft). He is so athletic. When we recruited him, he was about 220 pounds. The thing was, will he put on the weight? He is such a single-minded young man in terms of wanting to be great. And that’s why he is a can’t-miss prospect. He has that kind of mindset that he’s going to do the little things to be great.”
Plug-And-Play
The selection of Alt makes sense for the Chargers, a team that is rebuilding under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Charges are in need of a physical offensive line to take pressure off quarterback Justin Herbert and the running game. Keeping Herbert on his feet should be a priority for Harbaugh. Herbert was sacked 29 times in 2023 and 38 times in 2022.
A polished blocker, Alt knows how to maximize his size and strength. He possesses an impressive blend of balance and agility that should be successful in keeping pass rushers at bay at the next level. Granted, he’ll need to continue improving his technique to handle the more powerful rushers he will encounter in the NFL. Despite the challenges he is sure to face, Alt gives the Chargers a franchise offensive lineman to go with their franchise quarterback. He should be an impact player immediately for the Chargers.
