Joe Alt is wasting no time turning early promise into real NFL respect.
The Chargers’ 2024 first-round pick has already pushed his way into the league’s top tier at offensive tackle, landing in ESPN’s top-10 rankings as voted on by league executives, coaches and scouts. Add in Rashawn Slater’s honorable mention, and Los Angeles suddenly has a tackle pairing that looks like one of the best in football.
That kind of recognition is no accident. The Chargers took Alt fifth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft because they believed they were getting a franchise building block.
Two seasons in, that bet is looking better by the week. Entering only his third NFL season, Alt is already being treated like one of the premier linemen in the game.
His 2025 season backed that up. After a strong rookie year, Alt took another step forward, sharpening his pass protection while still imposing his will in the run game. He’s become the kind of blocker who makes life noticeably easier for Justin Herbert, who has spent plenty of his career dealing with uneven protection.
What stands out most is how composed Alt looks when the matchup gets difficult. Against elite edge rushers, he doesn’t seem rattled. He plays with the poise of a much older player, which is a big deal for someone who entered the league at just 21 years old.
Alt’s growth also fits neatly with what Jim Harbaugh has been trying to build. Harbaugh has made winning at the line of scrimmage a priority, and the Chargers have poured resources into making that happen. Alt has become one of the clearest signs that plan is taking shape.
Slater’s inclusion matters too. After missing the 2025 season with a patellar tendon injury, there were obvious questions about whether he could get back to his previous standard. League evaluators still putting him among the NFL’s best tackles says plenty about the reputation he’s built.
If Slater gets back to All-Pro form and Alt keeps climbing, the Chargers may end up with the best offensive tackle duo in the league. That’s a rare advantage, and it could reshape what this offense is capable of.
For the Chargers, it all starts up front. Better protection gives Herbert more time to attack downfield, and it opens space for Omarion Hampton in the run game. When the tackles are this good, the whole offense gets more dangerous.
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