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The Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Alt is the consensus top player at his position in this year’s draft class.

Alt is ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid’s No. 5 overall player while Dane Brugler of The Athletic also has him in that spot.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., ranked Alt at No. 8 overall.

Brugler offered the following breakdown of Alt:

Alt stays light on his feet with the big-man agility, body control and instinctive recovery skills to become a high-level run blocker and above-average pass protector very early in this NFL career. He projects as a first-year, scheme-versatile starter with the pedigree to be a cornerstone player for an NFL franchise.

Reid added:

There isn’t another prospect I was more impressed with while out on the road live scouting this past year. Alt came to the Irish as a tight end, but his transition to offensive tackle over the past three seasons has been seamless. He’s the most versatile blocker in this loaded OT class. Thanks to unique arm length, he is difficult for defenders to get around — but he also overwhelms pass-rushers.

Alt had some technique and flexibility question marks coming into last season, but he has fixed those issues and become a model of consistency. And he’s quick, posting a 5.05-second 40-yard dash at the combine with a 1.73-second 10-yard split — tied for ninth best among offensive linemen. After allowing one sack in 2023, Alt is a plug-and-play left tackle who will be a plus starter for more than a decade.

The selection of Alt gives the Chargers a potential long-term tackle to pair with Rashawn Slater.

The 21-year-old Alt is listed at 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds.

A unanimous All-American in 2023, Alt started all 12 games he played with the Fighting Irish at left tackle.

Alt, who allowed just one sack and five total pressures in 2023, was Pro Football Focus’ top-graded offensive tackle at 90.7 among players with at least 700 snaps.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • 2023 Lombardi Award finalist
  • 2022 Associated Press All-American – First Team
  • 2022 Pro Football Focus All-American – First Team
  • 2022 CBS Sports/247 Sports All-American – First Team
  • 2022 Action Network All-American – First Team
  • 2022 ESPN.com All-American – First Team
  • 2022 The Sporting News All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 FWAA All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 Walter Camp All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 AFCA All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 The Athletic All-American – Second Team
  • USA Today All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 Pro Football Focus Midseason All-American – Second Team
  • 2022 Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll
  • 2021 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List
  • 2022 Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American

 

AS A SOPHOMORE (2022)

  • Started all 13 games in 2022 and has been in the starting lineup at left tackle for 21 consecutive on the Irish offensive line.
  • Helped the Irish average 4.6 yards per carry during the 2022 season, racking up 2,457 total rushing yards which is the sixth-best total at Notre Dame since 1996. Finished the season with 25 total rushing touchdowns as the Irish offense averaged 31.77 points per game.
  • Helped clear the way for seven games of 220+ yards rushing, with four games of 260+.
  • Irish ranked 16th nationally in least TFLs allowed per game.
  • Was honored, along with entire Notre Dame offensive line, as part of the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
  • Ohio State (9/3): Opened the year at Ohio State, as the team rushed for 76 yards on 30 attempts and scored a touchdown. Helped the Irish throw for 177 yards through the air.
  • Marshall (9/10): Paved the way for 130 yards rushing and two scores against the Thundering Herd. 21 completions through the air for 221 yards and a score.
  • California (9/17): Team ran for 147 yards on 41 attempts and a score in the first win of the season. Helped protect the quarterback who finished 17-for-23 for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
  • North Carolina (9/24): Ran for a season-best 287 yards on 51 carries, averaging 5.63 yards per carry. Audric Estime became the first 100-yard rusher of the season with a 17 carry, 134 yard, two touchdown performance. Irish added 289 yards through the air on 24-of-34 passing for three more scores.
  • BYU (10/8): Team did not allow a sack in the victory. Team ran for 5.2 yards per carry on 45 attempts. Protected the passing game that went for 262 yards, going 22-for-28.
  • Stanford (10/15): Went for 150 yards and a score on 34 carries against the Cardinal. 13 completions for 151 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
  • UNLV (10/22): Team did not allow a sack as the Irish threw for 205 yards on 14 completions. Ran for 223 yards on 47 carries and three scores in the victory. Logan Diggs earned his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, carrying 28 times for 130 yards.
  • Syracuse (10/29): Piled up 246 rushing yards on 56 attempts and three scores in the victory. Protected for nine completions and 116 yards and a score through the air. Two runners with 20 carries each as Estime and Diggs went for 123 and 85 yards, respectively.
  • Clemson (11/5): Helped the Irish take down a top-10 opponent with 263 yards on the ground on 47 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Protected for nine completions for 85 yards and a score through the air.
  • Navy (11/12): Ran for 66 yards and a score. Protected for 17 completions for 269 yards and a season-best four touchdowns through the air in the rivalry victory.
  • Boston College (11/19): Racked up 281 yards on 38 attempts rushing, averaging 10.03 yards per carry and scoring four times. Team did not allow a sack, hitting on 13-of-25 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown.
  • USC (11/26): Protected for Notre Dame’s first 300+ yard passing game of the year as the Irish went 23-for-26 for 318 yards and three scores.
  • South Carolina – TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (12/30): Notre Dame had three runners go for more than 60 yards in the bowl game victory, led by a 95 yard performance from Estimé. Helped clear lanes for 89 rushing yards and a score from Diggs and added two scores and 61 yards from quarterback Tyler Buchner. Protected for Buchner’s career day passing, as the sophomore finished with 274 yards and three scores on 18 completions.

AS A FRESHMAN (2021)

  • Saw time this year as a tight end and on the offensive line; Played in all 13 games, starting in the final eight including the 2022 Playstation Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State
  • VIRGINIA TECH (10/9): Paved the way for 180 team rushing yards and 32 points in an Irish road victory in Blacksburg
  • SOUTHERN CAL (10/23): Controlled the line of scrimmage which resulted in 170 yards rushing and three rushing TDs in a win over the Trojans; Helped an offense which converted on eight-of-12 third downs and dominated 31:23 minutes in time of possession
  • NORTH CAROLINA (10/30): Led an Irish offensive line that guided Notre Dame running backs to a season-high 293 yards rushing, the highest game total since Week 3 of 2020 (353 yds. vs. Florida State, 10/10)
  • VIRGINIA (11/13): Paved the way for a 249 team rushing performance in the 28-3 victory over the Cavaliers
  • GEORGIA TECH (11/20): Led an Irish offense team which scored 55 points and gained 514 total yards of offense
  • STANFORD (11/27): Helped the Irish offense in a 45-14 regular season finale win over the Cardinal; guided the Irish offense to 510 total yards, including 169 yards rushing – the team’s nine 100+ yard rushing game of the season
  • OKLAHOMA STATE – Fiesta Bowl (1/1): Paved the way for an Irish offense that set a season high 551 yards of total offense and converted on 11-of-20 third down attempts


PREP AND PERSONAL

  • Four-star recruit by 247Sports
  • Three-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN
  • No. 179 player nationally, No. 21 offensive tackle nationally and No. 2 player from Minnesota by 247Sports.com
  • No. 60 player regionally, No. 15 offensive tackle nationally and No. 5 player from Minnesota by ESPN.com (78 Scout Grade)
  • 5.6 Rivals rank
  • After his senior year, Alt earned All-Metro, All-District, Minnesota Vikings All-State, Academic All-State and a Mr. Football Finalist
  • As a junior, played tight end and defensive end. He hauled in 17 receptions for 143 yards
  • Played for coach Jay Anderson at Totino-Grace
  • Also played basketball at Totino-Grace
  • Son of Carolyn and John Alt
  • Father, John, played on the offensive line at Iowa, and was a first round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984
  • John was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2002
  • Has four siblings; Lauren, Mark, Julia and Jordyn
  • Brother, Mark, played hockey at Minnesota, and is currently playing in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings
  • Intends to major in mechanical engineering