How the Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft could look without Eddie Jackson
By Dakota Wayne
1.04: Joe Alt, OT | Notre Dame
There's a belief within the Chicago Bears fandom that offensive tackle isn't a position of need because Braxton Jones has played well enough to stay there. That could be the case, but when a 6-foot-8 tall, 330-pound offensive tackle with elite athleticism is available at their pick, it'd be a real shocker to see Ryan Poles not draft him.
Notre Dame OT Joe Alt comes in as my No. 4 ranked player on my latest 2024 big board. He’s a Taylor Decker/Jake Matthews level of prospect that could get fitted for his helmet and pads today and turn into a franchise building block. pic.twitter.com/lethyuiSmM
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) February 7, 2024
He's not as "attractive" of a pick as Caleb Williams could be, but Ryan Poles is on the record as saying he cares most about premium positions on his football team, and the top offensive tackle in the draft class is in his realm of premium positions.
"We're always gonna look at pass rushers, we are gonna look at offensive lineman, corners," Poles said. "I always start with the premium positions to see, you know, are we good enough in those? And then move on from there."
If the Chicago Bears trade down from the first overall pick, expect one of those premium positions to be attacked. In this situation, he goes offensive lineman: Joe Alt, offensive tackle.