NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Insiders Believe Jim Harbaugh, Chargers Want Joe Alt at No. 5

The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly being heavily linked to the top offensive tackle prospect available ahead of the start of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday.

According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, "multiple executives" believe new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has his sights set on Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt.

The Chargers own the No. 5 pick, and Alt should still be available to them there if the Chargers decide to stand pat rather than trading back.

Alt, who measured in at 6'9" and weighed 321 yards at the NFL Scouting Combine, was a three-year starter at Notre Dame, and he cemented his status as an elite offensive tackle prospect during that time.

In all, Alt made 33 consecutive starts for the Fighting Irish, established himself as a team captain and was an All-American in both 2022 and 2023.

With Alt paving the way last season, Notre Dame running back Audric Estimé rushed for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns, and quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Steve Angeli combined to throw 31 touchdown passes, as ND averaged 39.2 points per game.

Harbaugh's affinity for winning in the trenches is well documented, as running the ball effectively has been a hallmark of his head coaching stops at Stanford and Michigan, and with the San Francisco 49ers.

L.A. has a ton of needs on both sides of the ball, and with teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders potentially looking to trade up and select a quarterback, trading down from No. 5 is a viable option for the Bolts.

However, if Harbaugh truly has his heart set on Alt, the Chargers will probably have to stay at No. 5 and take him since he may not last beyond the New York Giants at No. 6 or Tennessee Titans at No. 7.

The Chargers have a quality left tackle in Rashawn Slater, who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie before missing all but three games in 2022 and then bouncing back to start all 17 games last season.

Alt would represent a huge upgrade over Trey Pipkins on the other side, though, and he would give offensive coordinator Greg Roman bookend tackles who could protect quarterback Justin Herbert and open holes for running back additions Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.

The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked Alt as the No. 5 overall player and No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the 2024 class on its final big board, so if the Chargers take him fifth overall, it is unlikely that there will be much of an argument from their fanbase.