Joe Alt Goes Top 5 In Latest ESPN Mock Draft

The latest mock draft from ESPN has former Notre Dame star Joe Alt going in the top five

Central Michigan v Notre Dame / Justin Casterline/GettyImages

Notre Dame star offensive tackle Joe Alt is going to be a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the latest mock draft from ESPN has the former Irish standout going in the top five. Mike Tannenbaum - the former General Manager of the New York Jets, has Alt being selected with the No. 5 overall pick.

The Los Angeles Chargers currently have the No. 5 pick, and continuing to build up the offensive line to protect quarterback Justin Herbert is the direction Tannenbaum sees them going. Head coach Jim Harbaugh built Michigan into a champion with a dominant offensive line the last three seasons, so it shouldn't be a surprise that some believe he will go with the best offensive lineman in this upcoming draft class.

"The Chargers gave up 43 sacks last season, 13th-most in the NFL. So despite the top receivers all being on the board and a glaring need there after trading Keenan Allen and cutting Mike Williams, I'm choosing to instead protect quarterback Justin Herbert. Alt is 6-foot-9 with great movement traits, and he gave up just six sacks over 2,142 snaps in college. Fortifying the offensive line is the foundation of any Jim Harbaugh team, and that's especially true after Herbert missed four games last season due to a fractured finger. The WR class is deep, so I'm taking my OT1 now and worrying about the pass-catchers on Day 2." - Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN

Alt was arguably the best tackle in college football over the last two seasons. In 2022, Alt was named a first team All-American by ESPN, Associated Press, Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports. In 2023, the true junior was named a unanimous All-American. To be a unanimous All-American player must be on the first-team list for the AFCA, the Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, the Associated Press and Walter Camp. 

The Chargers have selected four former Notre Dame players in the last seven drafts, with safety Alohi Gilman being the most recent. Gilman was a sixth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. A year prior the Chargers drafted former Irish defensive tackle Jerry Tillery in the first round and linebacker Drue Tranquill in round four.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2024 Spring Roster

2024 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter