Joe Alt shined in Chargers debut, but PFF grades show it wasn't perfect

Travis Wakeman

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Joe Alt shined in Chargers debut, but PFF grades show it wasn't perfect image

Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, has had praise heaped on him for his Week 1 performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, and rightfully so. It's not every day you see a rookie have as much success against Maxx Crosby as Alt did. 

Only Taliese Fuaga of the New Orleans Saints was given a higher pass-blocking grade among rookie tackles in Week 1. Alt came in at No. 2 with a solid grade of 76.6 for not allowing any pressures by Crosby or the Raiders' massive free-agent signing, Christian Wilkins. 

 

Alt can improve in the run-blocking department, however. His 47.8 grade there was second-lowest among the rookie tackles graded in Week 1. 

That didn't stop J.K. Dobbins from having a huge day though, rushing for 135 yards against a talented Raiders front. The Chargers will assuredly take the bad with the good in Alt's debut, as most onlookers saw it as a huge success. 

What's next for Joe Alt?

Alt and the Chargers will turn their focus to the Carolina Panthers. This is a much easier matchup for Alt, at least on paper, as the Panthers don't have a feared pass-rusher after trading Brian Burns this offseason. Veteran Jadeveon Clowney is there, but if Alt can handle Crosby, he should be ready for this one. 

It will be interesting to see how Alt's grades shake out for Week 2, particularly in the running game. 

The New Orleans Saints rushed for 180 yards and averaged nearly five yards per carry in Week 1, so this could be an opportunity for Alt to start to assert himself as a solid run-blocker as well. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.