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Where Does the Bolts O-Line Stand After the 2024 Draft?

May 01, 2024 at 11:22 AM

Eric Smith

Senior Writer

The Chargers used just one of their nine draft picks on an offensive lineman, but they made sure it was a high-priority selection by taking Joe Alt at No. 5 overall.

The former Notre Dame standout, who was viewed as the consensus top offensive tackle in the draft, immediately adds some beef up front as he stands at 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds.

Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus recently opined that the Bolts immediately have one of the league's most improved units up front.

McGuinness wrote:

Joe Alt was the Chargers' only offensive line selection in this draft, but it was a move that could leave the team with the NFL's best tackle pairing by the end of this upcoming season, with 2021 first-round draft pick Rashawn Slater on the other side. One of the most complete prospects in this draft class, Alt earned a PFF grade above 90.0 in each of the past two seasons and allowed just 13 total pressures on 774 pass-blocking snaps in that span.

A unanimous All-American in 2023, many draft pundits viewed the 21-year-old Alt as a Top-5 prospect in the draft.

"Obviously, it's exciting to get a player with his athleticism, his size and, really, still young and maturing," Chargers offensive line coach Mike Devlin said Monday. "From that perspective, yeah, you love to have guys like that.

"It's a big-man's business, football," Devlin added. "And he's a big man that can move."

So, where does that leave the Bolts offensive line now that the calendar has flipped to May?

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said last week that Slater is entrenched as the Bolts left tackle.

Devlin had plenty of praise for Slater on Monday.

"He's really smart. He is very unselfish," Devlin said. "I say that because I've had some big-time players that maybe won't hold a bag, but, boy, he's right over there holding the bag for the guys. I'm like, 'Man, this guy. He's got the whole package.'

"I'm really excited with what he's done. He asks great questions, which I love," Devlin added. "There's good banter back-and-forth, which, that's what you want from a coach and player relationship."

Harbaugh and Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz also noted that Alt will play tackle, so expect him to compete with Trey Pipkins III for a starting spot on the right side.

There's also a chance, if Alt becomes the starter at right tackle, that Pipkins could battle for another starting spot along the line.

"I think he's big. He's athletic. He's a people-mover from what I've seen on tape. He's smart. Just like the rest of the fellas," Devlin said. "Everything is a transition. Joe is going to be a transition, he's going right, right? Everything we are doing right now is a transition.

"Different techniques, different names of plays. Different philosophies. I think, every day we just have to come in here," Devlin added. "They know this, this is what I love about them all, every one of them, they've attacked every day to get better and better. They haven't blinked once. It's a joy going in there to get in front of those guys every day."