Los Angeles Chargers GM Joe Hortiz calls Joe Alt a 'no-brainer pick'

What the Los Angeles Chargers were going to do at No. 5 in the 2024 NFL Draft was a major topic heading into the first round. However, for all the options available to them, GM Joe Hortiz said the franchise made the obvious decision.

Hortiz appeared on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday and discussed the team’s selection of OT Joe Alt out of Notre Dame. While they naturally considered all their options in rounding out the top-five, he said Alt was the clear choice for them based on both him as a player and person and on what they want to be known for moving forward.

“Well, you know, we certainly talked about every player, compared every player but we know what the mindset is that we want to develop here,” said Hortiz. “Getting a guy like Joe? I mean you’re talking about top-level talent, athlete, competitor. Great guy, culture-builder. So, like, it was kind of a no-brainer pick.”

“Certainly, yeah, we want to get bigger, stronger, tougher. We’re going to run the ball, we’re going to pound on people,” Hortiz said. “He’s just what you need for that.”

Alt played for the Fighting Irish for three seasons in college. After his first few games, he became a full-time starter on the offensive line, specifically at left tackle. In that time in South Bend, he led one of the best units in the nation down in the trenches, including in his last season as a Unanimous All-American as part of a line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.

Again, the Chargers could have gone with anyone in the draft after the expected, prospects went off the board. They could have even traded down as a team going in that many thought could be open to a deal.

Still, in Jim Harbaugh’s mind too, Alt is who they wanted because of how Los Angeles is viewing their linemen.

“You’re going to say, like, ‘What about a weapon?’ Offensive linemen? We look at as weapons. That group, when we talk about attacking and we talk about attacking on offense? Offensive line is the tip of the spear.”

The Chargers allowed 43 sacks last season, which was around the middle of the pack in the league at 13th-most, for an average of just over 2.5 per game. They also finished 27th in the NFL in yards per carry at only 3.8.

Los Angeles had their pick of the litter once they got on the clock in the first round. It just didn’t take much more consideration, though, to go with Alt considering what they want to be moving into these next years under Harbaugh.

“There wasn’t much debate about him,” said Hortiz.