One of the best ways to get through the NFL offseason is to start to look at some of the top college talent going into the year. That way, fans can watch potential draft picks on Saturday as they wait for their favorite team to play on Sunday.
One name that Raiders fans should keep an eye on is Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, who is widely regarded as one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Alt was an All-American selection in 2022 despite just being a sophomore. He is expected to be a top-20 pick and has the ability to play both left and right tackle.
In a recent mock draft by Pro Football Network, they had the Raiders selecting Alt with the No. 15 pick. Here is why they believe he would be an excellent fit in Las Vegas next year:
The best tackle right now in college football is Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. Alt has a mammoth 6’8″ frame but is lighter in the pants at 315 pounds. He’s as sharp identifying blitzes as any blocker I’ve evaluated, giving him even more value for young quarterbacks who may struggle with pre-snap reads.
The difference between Alt and some of his peers is his lack of athleticism for his density. He’s a good athlete with great technique, whereas the NFL often prefers great athletes who can be taught technique. Still, the Las Vegas Raiders shouldn’t complain if they can draft Alt and plug him in at RT, considering their need.
It does appear that Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels want to rebuild the trenches and adding a player like Alt to the right side of the offensive line could do wonders for them. The Raiders do have Jermaine Elumunour playing that spot in 2023, but he certainly isn’t a long-term solution.
While it’s hard to call Alt the “favorite” to be the selection by the Raiders in the first round of next year’s draft. He’ll certainly be someone on the radar for the front office when they are on the clock. Keep an eye on the Notre Dame star this year as he should be a lock first-round selection.
