Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Alt was a four-star recruit from Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minn. in the class of 2021

Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is an All-American and a presumed top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, but a deep dive into his tape reveals concerns with balance, footwork, and play strength. Alt projects as a day two pick with the upside to raise his stock in the upcoming season.

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Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior left tackle from North Oaks, Minn.

Background: Alt was a four-star recruit from Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minn. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 400 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 364 for On3.com (both four-stars). Alt was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. As a high school junior, he played tight end and defensive end, catching 17 passes for 143 yards. As a senior, Alt earned All-Metro, All-District, Minnesota Vikings All-State, and Academic All-State honors. He also played basketball in high school. Alt’s father, John Alt, played along the offensive line at Iowa. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Alt 21st overall in the 1984 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons, making two Pro Bowls and earning Second Team All-Pro honors in 1990. Joe Alt’s brother, Mark Alt, played hocket at Minnesota before being selected in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010. Alt spent several years in the league.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2022 First Team All-American

Pros: Only one penalty committed in 2021 and 2022, meets NFL arm length thresholds, arm length advantage neutralized Clemson’s Myles Murphy (2022), room to add mass throughout his frame, size advantage over outside linebackers, large frame presents a significant obstacle, good hand placement, flashes of knockback in hands, quick strikes to disorient pass rushers, awareness of the pocket, mixes jump and vertical pass sets, attempts to maintain knee bend in pass pro, oscillates to hit multiple defenders on one play, mobility and speed to lead block, strength to seal run lanes, generates movement as a vertical blocker in the run game, generates displacement and large running lanes as a down blocker

Cons: Lower half is lean, lacks twitch, surrenders natural leverage battle with his height, arm length isn’t elite, Zach Harrison’s length occasionally gave him issues (2022), struggles to re-anchor when defender gets into his chest, speed to power can prove problematic, Jack Sawyer had success multiple times using speed to power to blow Alt back into the QB (2022), initial step and slide lack explosiveness, footwork leads to him being stressed up the arc, feet and upper body are both late to redirect to mirror defenders, footspeed, crosses his feet in pass pro, slow to replace hands, hands aren’t firm and slip off defenders, needs to learn snatch-trap, inconsistent stunt recognition and communication vs. Ohio State (2022), gets tunnel vision allowing rushing lanes for wide-angle defenders, stunters, or delayed blitzers, burn the Ohio State tape (2022), waist bender in the run game, examples of getting over his skis and losing balance versus counters, ends up on the ground two or three times per game, lunges into blocks in the run game, leans on defenders in the run game leaving himself vulnerable to counters, GPS at the second level, lacks a mean streak

Overview: Alt is a massive offensive tackle with the arm length to satisfy NFL standards. He used this length with great effectiveness against Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy (2022), preventing the first round pick from getting into his chest or building up momentum early in his rush plan. There is room for Alt to add mass throughout his frame, which he’ll need to do if he wants to meet the league’s strength thresholds. Despite being a lean prospect with limited muscle definition and mass in his lower body, Alt possesses a significant size advantage over many outside linebackers. His large frame presents a significant obstacle for pass rushers who try to work around him. Alt has flashes of good hand placement and knockback in his hands. He uses quick strikes to disorient pass rushers. Alt doesn’t have the footspeed and footwork to mirror explosive rushers up the arc, but he uses his awareness of the pocket to keep the quarterback clean by pushing defenders upfield. The junior mixes jump and vertical pass sets to keep defenders on their toes. He attempts to maintain knee bend in pass protection but surrenders the natural leverage battle because of his height. Alt has the mobility and speed to lead block in the run game. He uses his massive size to his advantage, sealing run lanes for his backs. Alt generates displacement and large running lanes as a down blocker because of the momentum he puts behind his large frame. Unfortunately, the All-American bends at his waist in both the run and pass game. This leads to him getting over his skis and losing his balance versus counters or basic pass rush moves like swims and push-pulls. Alt ends up on the ground two or three times per game because of balance issues. He lunges into blocks in the run game and leans on defenders, leaving himself vulnerable to counters. Alt is athletic enough to operate at the defense’s second level, but his internal GPS doesn’t lead him to linebackers or slot defenders. He lacks a mean streak as a run blocker. The Minnesota native has good arm length but falls short of elite in this area. Ohio State edge rusher Zach Harrison’s length occasionally gave Alt issues (2022). He struggles to re-anchor when defenders get into his chest because his lower body is lean. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer had success using speed to power to blow Alt back into the quarterback (2022). How the left tackle handles speed to power will be a problem at the NFL level. Alt lacks twitch, and his initial step and slide aren’t explosive. The former three-star recruit’s footwork leads to him being stressed up the arc. His feet and upper body are both late to redirect to mirror defenders. Alt sometimes crosses his feet in pass protection. He is slow to replace his hands. His hands aren’t firm and slip off defenders. Alt must learn how to perform a snatch-trap, which has been highly effective for large tackles like Dawand Jones in the past. Alt is inconsistent at recognizing and communicating stunts. This was a significant problem against Ohio State in 2022. The left tackle gets tunnel vision, allowing wide-angle defenders, stunters, or delayed blitzers to work around his outside shoulder.

Overall, Alt’s lean build, inconsistent footwork, and balance concerns make him vulnerable to athletic pass rushers or savvy veterans capable of countering his initial attack. Alt’s main focuses for 2023 should include filling out his lower frame, refining his footwork to mirror pass rushers, and developing firmer punch combinations and placement.  

Role & Scheme Fit: Left tackle in an inside or outside zone scheme

Round Projection: Mid Second to Early Third

Size: 6'8", 315 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 07-22-23