The Sports Pope has issued his latest decree.
On his BetRivers podcast earlier this week, Mike Francesa declared that the Jets should select offensive tackle Joe Alt out of Notre Dame when they pick at 10th overall in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
“He’s probably gonna be there for the Jets. If the Jets get the good fortune of Alt being there at 10, if they don’t take him, they should be shot,” Francesa said.
“And if Alt’s there, pop the champagne corks, because that will be a home run. That will be a guy who will be a 10-year starter, maybe a 14-year starter — a multiple-time All-Pro. He is a can’t-miss player on the offensive line. Can’t miss. Right pedigree, right everything.”
Francesa later said he believed that it was about a “50-50” shot that Alt is available when the Jets’ turn to pick arrives.
Joe Douglas and the Jets’ front office may not have the chance to set themselves up for this proverbial execution, as The Post’s latest mock draft had Alt going seventh overall to the Titans.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the Jets did indeed host Alt for a visit earlier this week.
Alt’s father, John Alt, played offensive tackle for the Chiefs from 1984-96, making two Pro Bowls during his 13-year NFL career.
Joe Alt split time between tight end and offensive line during his first two years at Notre Dame, and said that this was helpful for his development.
“For me, playing tight end was really helpful, I came into my athletic ability,” Alt said last month, as covered by the Jets’ website.
“I kept my feet quick and that was huge once I transferred to tackle, having that foot speed and that stuff already there. Once I transferred to left tackle, I kind of simulated into pass pro and it was really huge for me working on getting my punch and stroke down. That wasn’t emphasized at tight end.
“I saw it coming, my body was growing and I knew that was where I was going. I started doing O-line drills when I was still playing tight end, so the change was pretty easy for me.”