Expected to follow in his father’s footsteps as a first-round NFL draft choice, Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt made his NFL timeline official Wednesday morning. The high-end offensive line prospect announced he will enter the 2024 draft.
The son of former Chiefs first-round pick and longtime left tackle starter John Alt, Joe is viewed as one of the best O-linemen available in the 2024 prospect pool. Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent ESPN.com big board lists Alt 15th overall and as the third-best O-line prospect.
A two-year starter for the Fighting Irish at left tackle, Alt has secured back-to-back first-team All-American honors. Alt joins Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, Kiper’s No. 7 overall prospect, as the Associated Press’ first-team tackles.
Alt started at Notre Dame for the past two seasons, and although this period in college football is flooded with players who have used their additional year of eligibility brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alt will take the traditional route to the NFL (for top prospects, at least). The 2021 recruit will exit college after three years.
Notre Dame’s stamp on the current NFL O-line landscape will only help Alt’s cause. Ex-Fighting Irish left tackles Zack Martin and Mike McGlinchey became instant starters, albeit at different NFL positions, and former Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson became an instant All-Pro after going off the 2018 draft board sixth overall. Aaron Banks, Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hainsey and Ronnie Stanley reside as O-line starters chosen from the Division I-FBS independent.
The Chiefs chose John Alt in the 1984 first round, and he became one of the team’s anchors during Marty Schottenheimer’s successful stay during the 1990s. John played 13 NFL seasons. It appears a near-certainty Joe Alt, who checks in at 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds, will become a first-rounder as well.
If he is available in the middle of the 1st (picks 13-19) I’d like the Saints to look at him. The Trevor Penning Experience needs to be canceled. It’s not a sexy pick, but one they need.
He’s gonna be the 2nd tackle taken. Most mock drafts have him going in the top 8