It's a foregone conclusion that the Tennessee Titans will draft a left tackle with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – it's just a matter of who they select.

A lot of people are connecting the dots with Notre Dame standout, Joe Alt, which makes sense when considering many experts have pegged him as the top tackle prospect in this year's class. He has all the measureables and accolades to warrant the status as one of the best overall players in the class and there's plenty of tape to back his play up, as well.

But, according to NFL Films senior producer and analyst, Greg Cosell, there's a bothersome element in said tape.

"I did not love Joe Alt's tape," Cosell recently told 104.5 The Zone's 3HL. "I think that his game is built on athleticism, length [and] technique, more than physicality, strength and power. He's an athletic, finesse tackle. He doesn't have a lot of strike power in his hands and throughout his body. He's more passive than aggressive. He doesn't fire his hands. In the run game, he relies more on excellent body position, which he's very good at. He's really good with his body position. He's got a really good understanding of angles and leverage. 

"But the part about not firing his hands: that bothers me. Now, again, maybe it doesn't bother others. I did have a conversation with someone who agreed with me on that. But then there's other people, who I respect greatly, who think he's a machine and that he's, you know, going to be a 10-year great player. I think it's mixed, but I did not love his tape."

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Alt's hand placement is something to take into account, but it can be improved through coaching

What Cosell is talking about is very important. NFL pass rushers are all about starting at the "junction point", which begins with the hands, as A to Z Sports Pittsburgh's Rob Gregson talks about below:

Alt has to develop his hand usage and timing to win consistently at the junction point, also known as where a pass rusher’s hands meet the offensive lineman’s hands. Alt has a tendency to get his hands up late, or without intent, leaving him susceptible to pass rush moves designed to attack the arms of opposing tackles. Pass rushers want to win as quickly as possible into the rep, and that starts by staying clean and swiping away arms and hands, making Alt’s timing and usage a needed area of development. 

There are some things you can't teach in the NFL. Speed, get off, certain instincts – elements like those are innate abilities that some guys simply have and some simply don't. Hand placement and strike power can be developed, especially with a player as young as Alt, who will turn 21-years-old at the end of the month. 

The one negative from Cosell that may not be able to be taught, though, is the aggressive mentality. That's obviously a mindset and it ultimately takes the individual to establish that bar, but mindsets can be instilled if you have the right people in place.

"He needs to be more aggressive and assertive with his hand strikes in pass protection," said Cosell. "He's got a tendency to place them, as opposed to fire them. He doesn't shock pass rushers and too often rushers got inside of them and drove him back. Now there were times he then was able to, to sort of recover, but, now in the NFL… do you recover if guys get inside of you? I don't know.

"…He's much more of an extender with his arms than a striker."

Now, granted, the Titans would want this development to happen as fast as possible considering Alt would be expected to be an immediate starter on the left side of the offensive line – but that's what these guys get paid to do, right? Ultimately, the ball is in the Titans' court.

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Don't worry, there's another option if Cosell's evaluation has scared people away

And that's Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga.

The key with Fuaga is he played right tackle in college, but he has the traits to move to left tackle if it's plausible. The key with that is more and more NFL teams are putting their best pass rushers on the left side of the defense/right side of the offense because, typically, the pass pro isn't as good on the right as it is on the left, due to the priority of protecting the QB's blindside.

But, if the Titans were to hypothetically draft Fuaga to strengthen the right side and leave the left side vulnerable, teams could attack the left side more. There's always the option of moving Fuaga to left tackle, but again, we are right back where we were if the right side is more vulnerable. And, there's no guarantee a switch from right to left will work – just ask Kansas City Chiefs right tackle, Jawaan Taylor.

Still, there are options when it comes to Fuaga's game, and that's never a bad thing.

"I think he's one of the best o-line prospects in the draft," said Cosell. "This guy is incredibly strong. He's got great size [and] athletic movement. There were times watching his tape, I thought he was the best offensive tackle prospect in the class, with his profile: size, strength, athleticism, [and] nasty demeanor. He's really good in the run game. He's a take-no-prisoners menace blocker in the run game.

"I think he's a really good athlete [and] I think he has the traits, where he could transition at either tackle position."

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Final word

The good news is the Titans should have their pick of the litter when it comes to tackle prospects. Every team in front of them either has an established left tackle or they need a quarterback more than they do a blindside protector. The one wildcard is the Arizona Cardinals, who may cut starting left tackle D.J. Humphries in the near future.

Overall, the team is in great shape to find one of its foundational pieces for the next decade.

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