First Notre Dame football player is officially off the 2024 NFL Draft board

Any Notre Dame football fans who were expecting drama early in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft were sorely disappointed. That’s because the first seven picks of this year’s draft played out just like almost all the mock drafts expected. 

That means that Notre Dame football punching bag Caleb Williams went first overall to the Chicago Bears. Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye went second and third. Then Marvin Harrison Jr. was taken by the Arizona Cardinals, eliminating the first team that some thought Joe Alt might be able to creep up to.

Alt didn’t have to wait long though to find out his team. The Notre Dame football star went just one pick later, to the Los Angeles Chargers, where he'll play under longtime Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.

While someone going in the Top 10 might be expected to be at the NFL Draft, it was made known quite a while ago that Alt would stay home with his family and friends to watch the proceedings. That's just the kind of blue collar player that the Chargers have now added to a roster that badly needed an upgrade on the offensive line.

Joe Alt is officially the first Notre Dame football player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft

There was a little bit of intrigue with Alt, as most mock drafts had the offensive tackle being drafted a few spots lower. However, it appears a team that badly needed a new offensive lineman wanted to make sure they got their guy.

In getting selected the the draft, Alt becomes the 5th Notre Dame football offensive lineman to be taken in the first round since 2014. He joins a group that includes Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey.

Going to the Chargers also means that Alt fought off some predictions who thought he might drop even further than the Tennessee Titans. That didn't happen.

Now the former Notre Dame football star gets ready to head west.