Chargers Select Notre Dame OT Joe Alt

Chargers start off the Jim Harbaugh era by building in the trenches.

With the fifth overall pick, the Los Angeles Chargers have selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, choosing to take the best player on the board despite a clear need at receiver or the ability to gain value via a trade to quarterback-needy teams like the Vikings or Giants.

The Chargers had been connected to JC Latham in the weeks prior to the draft before four NFL draft analysts mocked him to the team on the first day of the draft.

Because the Chargers have a franchise left tackle, the choice may seem a bit odd — they could have opted for a player with experience on the right side like Latham or Taliese Fuaga. But Alt hadn’t played on the offensive line until college despite his Pro Bowl pedigree. He was a multi-sport and multi-position athlete.

The hopes for his positional flexibility comes from that history, and many project that he’ll be capable along the right side of the line.

Alt was considered the consensus 5th-best player in the draft according to data compiled from 100-plus draft analysts. Despite measuring in at 6’8”, Alt has a natural understanding of leverage and has a great understanding of the landmarks pass-rushers use when attacking the pocket. His technique, discipline and athleticism have given him universal claim as the top offensive lineman in the draft.

Scouting reports of the massive Alt note his natural athleticism — he ran a 4.51-second short shuttle, a dispositive workout for offensive linemen — and have few weaknesses to list, primarily about his anchor and upper-body strength.

Alt made appearances as a freshman at Notre Dame, eventually starting the final eight games of the season. He became a first-team All-American the next year. The Harbaugh era has started by setting the tone.