Chargers Feel Good About Draft
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Earl Heath
Contributing Sports Writer
The Bolts select Joe Alt out of Notre Dame as their top pick in the 2024 Draft. They took one of the best non-quarterbacks available in Alt, who is a unanimous top-10 prospect.
According to Eric Smith -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.
The 21-year-old Alt is listed at 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds. He now gives the Chargers a potential long-term tackle to pair with Rashawn Slater.
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. He was a unanimous All-American in 2023, who started all 12 games for the Fighting Irish at left tackle.
“The offensive line to me is important,” said Charger head coach Jim Harbaugh. “If I asked you the question like, ‘What position group depends on no other position group to be good, but every other position group depends on them to be good. What position group is that?’. Offensive line.
“They’re not relying on any other position group to be good. They go out, yet every other position group relies on the offensive line to be good,” he added.
Joe Alt out of Notre Dame was the Chargers op pick in the 2024 Draft
His bloodlines surely don’t hurt, as his father, John, is a former first-round pick who is a member of the Chiefs Ring of Honor.
The Chargers said before the draft that they viewed the fifth pick as the No. 1 pick due to the collection of quarterbacks going high.
The L. A. Chargers had the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bolts have nine total picks after trading wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Bears in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 110).
Previously the Bolts have picked fifth overall four times in franchise history but have hit home runs on two of those selections. They selected Hall of Famers Junior Seau (1990) and LaDainian Tomlinson (2001) with the No. 5 pick.
Here are the MORE of the Chargers picks: Round 2 (34, from Patriots) — Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia: either outside or from the slot, where he could maybe best complement 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston, who struggled as a rookie. On the small side (6-0, 186), McConkey offers sub-4.4 speed and quickness .
Round 3 (69) — Junior Colson, LB, Michigan: The Wolverine backer reunites with head coach Jim Harbaugh in LA, the 6-2, 238-pounder should immediately compete for a starting role
Round 4 (105) — Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama: Eboigbe has the size (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) to greatly improve the Chargers’ run defense early in Los Angeles.
Round 5 (137, from Patriots) — Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland: Still was a consistent producer in college with 28 passes defensed and six interceptions in 39 career games.
Round 5 (140) — Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame:
Round 6 (181) — Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy: Vidal stands 5-8 but his 213-pound frame make him a strong blocker and physical runner. He doesn’t have home-run speed but he can operate well in between the tackles. At best, Vidal’s likely the fourth-best running back on the Chargers’ depth chart. Draft tracker
Round 7 (225) — Brenden Rice, WR, USC: One of the best value picks of Day 3 sees the former Trojan staying in Los Angeles with the Chargers. The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice,
Round 7 (253, compensatory selection) — Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan: Los Angeles gets another Michigan player with Johnson who boasts impressive athleticism.
