New Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh has made constructing and enhancing the offensive line a significant precedence in 12 months No. 1 with the franchise. He was true to that precedence when the Chargers chosen one of the best offensive sort out within the NFL Draft, Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, at No. 5 total on Thursday night time.
“A participant on the highest of our board,” Harbaugh mentioned. “No person was rated larger than Joe Alt when it got here to our choice.”
Alt stands a gargantuan 6-foot-8 and 321 kilos, has nice lengt, and strikes with swiftness. He checked all of the containers for the Chargers.
“You watch him come off the ball within the run recreation — clearly, we will run the ball right here — and he drives off the road of scrimmage,” common supervisor Joe Hortiz defined. “You watch him transfer gamers over three gaps. Very athletic, glorious vary, high-level competitor. Actually an athlete as a cross protector.”
Harbaugh can also be impressed with Alt’s ceiling at simply 21 years previous. Whereas Alt is not uncooked, he is not a completed product, both, saying, “That is precisely what you would like for.”
“21 years previous, there is a ton of upside,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He is not a completed product. To be that good with the place he is at, this can be a excessive, excessive ceiling and a excessive ground.”
Harbaugh realizes some might query why the Chargers drafted a lineman when wideout is perceived as a place of want after the crew traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and launched Mike Williams earlier this offseason.
“I do know the query goes to come back up, ‘What a few weapon?’ Offensive linemen, we have a look at as weapons,” Harbaugh mentioned. “That group, once we discuss attacking on offense, the offensive line is the tip of the spear.”
Harbaugh feels drafting Alt will profit not simply the working recreation, however the passing assault and quarterback Justin Herbert as effectively. Herbert has suffered accidents in consecutive seasons. In describing his draft philosophy, Harbaugh channeled legendary San Francisco 49ers head coach Invoice Walsh.
“It is not simply the working recreation with the offensive line,” Harbaugh mentioned. “They shield and that is why they receives a commission a lot cash … as a result of the quarterback has received to have the ability to end his throwing movement. “That comes from Invoice Walsh. I am stealing that one, I did not invent that one.”
If Herbert advantages from the drafting of Alt and if the working recreation improves due to him, this choose might in the end be among the best within the 2024 NFL Draft. Count on a way more bodily Chargers offense this fall.
