Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz was asked on the Pat McAfee show, about trade offers he received ahead of selecting Joe Alt with the 5th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Heading into the draft Hortiz made it clear what he expected from teams attempting to move into their draft position. He only wanted a deal that was so lopsided in the Chargers favor that he would be ‘blown away’ by the offer.
A deal was offered, and by Hortiz’s account it was a “great offer,” but the Chargers organization from top to bottom was sold on what Alt could bring to the team.
“We had a couple calls, one probably on the clock or before the clock,” Hortiz said. “It was a great offer in terms of what they were offering. They weren’t trying to get up to five for cheap. But we felt where it would take us to just wouldn’t put us in a range of of players we really wanted to consider.”
“The best move was to take Joe [Alt],” Hortiz continued. “We were all in on Joe. Everyone loved Joe. Everyone from myself, Jim [Harbaugh], all the scouts, all the coaches, John Spanos, we all were all in on Joe.”
Hortiz didn’t go as far as to divulge the teams interested in trading up, but did say there were ‘a lot of teams calling.’
The Los Angeles Chargers Love For Joe Alt
Alt was unanimously regarded as the top offensive lineman in the draft and the total buy-in from the Rams brass only confirms that sentiment.
“You watch him come off the ball in the run game — obviously, we’re going to run the ball here — and he drives off the line of scrimmage,” Hortiz said, per the Chargers’ official website. “You watch him move players over three gaps.
“Very athletic, excellent range, high-level competitor,” Hortiz added. “Certainly an athlete as a pass protector. For a guy his size to bend and then recover … it was exceptional.”
Best Player Available?
Many Chargers fans wanted the team to take Malik Nabers, the top wide receiver available at the spot in the draft. But Hortiz has often said they will select the best player available at each spot they pick. Many-a GM have uttered those exact words, but when presented with the option few follow through. This could be an example that they did exactly what they said they would.
Wide receiver was a huge need for the team, and they did end up selecting one with their next pick in the second round and two more in the seventh round. But this is more confirmation the Chargers were true believers in Joe Alt as a generational talent.
