The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive tackle Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. And while it may not have been the most exciting pick for Chargers fans who wanted the team to pick a new skill player, head coach Jim Harbaugh defended the pick.
While Jim Harbaugh understands that fans may have wanted the team to select a “weapon” on offense, he made it clear that he does see offensive lineman as high-value weapons on offense.
“I know the question is going to come up, ‘What about a weapon?’” Harbaugh told reporters according to Pro Football Talk. “Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons. That group, when we talk about attacking on offense, the offensive line is the tip of the spear.”
Harbaugh made it clear that he thinks the offensive line is the most important unit on the offense.
“It’s not just the running game with the offensive line,” Harbaugh said. “They protect and that’s why they get paid so much money . . . because the quarterback has got to be able to finish his throwing motion. . . . That comes from Bill Walsh. I’m stealing that one, I didn’t invent that one.”
We’ll have to see what sort of impact Alt makes for the Chargers this season.
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