The Los Angeles Chargers, led by coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz, aim to build a strong offense that can overpower opponents. They made their first move in that direction by selecting Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.
“We were focused on picking the best player available for the Chargers,” said Hortiz. “Alt improves our team and helps us progress. We want to elevate our game with every pick, and that’s what we believe we achieved.”
Despite needing a wide receiver after releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen, the Chargers opted for an offensive lineman in the first round for the third time in four years.
Even though talented receivers like Malik Nabers from LSU and Rome Odunze from Washington were available, the Chargers went with the consensus top offensive lineman in the draft.
“We view offensive linemen as weapons,” explained Harbaugh. “They are crucial in our attacking strategy. The offensive line leads the charge when we talk about aggression.”
