2024 Chiefs draft prospect: Notre Dame LT Joe Alt

College football season has officially arrived. While Kansas City Chiefs fans are looking ahead to the 2023 NFL season, many NFL draft hopefuls will begin their final season before they chase their NFL dreams. It's important to pay attention to some of those players throughout the college football season, because who knows which of them […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Aug 26, 2023 11:15 AM EDT

College football season has officially arrived.

While Kansas City Chiefs fans are looking ahead to the 2023 NFL season, many NFL draft hopefuls will begin their final season before they chase their NFL dreams. It's important to pay attention to some of those players throughout the college football season, because who knows which of them will end up playing in Arrowhead Stadium this time next year.

I've identified over 160 college prospects to keep an eye on ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, all of whom might be potential fits with the Chiefs. Below you'll find our first prospect, who has his own personal history with the team.

Notre Dame LT Joe Alt

Height: 6-foot-8

Weight: 320 pounds

Class: Junior

Alt played tight end in high school, converting to play offensive tackle during his senior year. As a freshman at Notre Dame in 2021, Alt played both tight end and offensive line, appearing in 13 total games with eight starts at left tackle to end the season. This paved the way for a standout 2022 campaign with the Fighting Irish, where he started all 13 games at left tackle.

During those 13 starts, Alt took his game to a whole new level. He was no longer just getting by on his size and length, but utilizing technique to win. He was part of an offensive line that helped achieve seven games of 220 rushing yards or more. He allowed just eight pressures and no sacks on over 400 pass-blocking snaps. His dominant performance against Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy put him on the map as an elite NFL draft prospect. His athleticism, length, flexibility, and power pop off the tape, both in the run game and in the passing game.

The name might sound familiar to Chiefs fans. That's because Alt's father, John Alt, is a Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer. He spent 13 years in Kansas City after being selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft. He earned one Second-Team All-Pro selection and two trips to the Pro Bowl during his tenure with the Chiefs.

How does he fit in Kansas City?

Beyond the fact that he would be a legacy player in Kansas City, Alt would instantly fill a massive need for the Chiefs. Donovan Smith is on a one-year contract with the team, and while they seem hopeful that Wanya Morris could be the long-term solution at left tackle, it's clear he's more comfortable playing on the right side. Alt is tailor-made to play left tackle in the NFL and has the makings of an impact starter as early as his rookie season. Securing the future blindside protector of Patrick Mahomes for four seasons (plus a fifth-year option) feels like a wise choice.

Round estimation:

Right now, Alt seems to be a consensus first-round draft pick. He ranges from a Top 10 prospect to a mid-to-late first-rounder. He has the potential to be a blue-chip player in the NFL, but his Junior campaign at Notre Dame will go a long way to determining the trajectory of his career.