Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt possesses an excellent opportunity to be the first blindside protector selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Protecting the quarterback with desired consistency was a league-wide problem for most NFL offenses throughout the 2023 season. That’s going to make a prospect with Alt’s capabilities a popular target in April.
Alt possesses the physical build, athleticism, and movement skills necessary to become a franchise left tackle at the next level. Alt’s lateral agility and lower-body flexibility is routinely on display and makes him a great fit to execute multiple run-game schemes. With that in mind, we've identified three potential landing spots for Alt in the 2024 NFL Draft.
TENNESSEE TITANS
No team had worse left tackle play throughout the 2023 campaign than the Titans did. Somehow, that statement has been true two seasons in a row. Whether it's been Andre Dillard, Dennis Daley, Nicholas Petit-Frere, or Jaelyn Duncan, the left tackle position has been a turnstile in Tennessee in recent seasons.
The Titans hired an offensive-minded head coach in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan earlier this week. Callahan will likely be installing his variation of the West Coast Offense, a system that Alt happens to be an excellent fit for due to his athletic profile. Protecting franchise quarterback Will Levis is of the utmost importance for Callahan and his staff. Expect the Titans to prioritize left tackle with the seventh overall pick.
NEW YORK JETS
The Jets will enter the 2024 season in win-now mode. Their highly anticipated 2023 campaign ended before it truly started when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opening seconds of Week 1. Head coach Robert Saleh and his staff were granted the benefit of the doubt as a result, but it'll undeniably be sink-or-swim in 2024.
Every move made by general manager Joe Douglas this offseason will be about maximizing their short window to win a Super Bowl. The offensive line especially needs upgrading, and expect the Jets to aggressively pursue solutions given Rodgers' advancing age and recovery from serious injury. The Jets don't have a long-term answer at the position currently on the roster. Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown and Billy Turner are scheduled for free agency. If Alt is on the board at No. 10 overall, the pick is a no-brainer.
ATLANTA FALCONS
If there's a darkhorse team that could consider drafting Alt in the top 10 where he belongs, it's the Falcons. The Falcons haven't had to worry about the left tackle position in a decade, but that will soon change. Franchise cornerstone Jake Matthews is entering his age-32 season. Matthews' contract becomes particularly expendable after the upcoming campaign.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot could save nearly $10 million against the 2025 cap while inheriting a manageable dead cap charge by releasing Matthews next offseason, per Spotrac. The Falcons wouldn't cut ties with Matthews without an in-house solution readily available. Many mock drafts have the Falcons taking a defensive player at No. 8 overall, but one may not be worth drafting that high. If Alt is available, he'd represent a significantly better choice, even if the move wouldn’t pay immediate dividends.
