Dream NY Jets first-round pick officially declares for 2024 NFL Draft

In a rare moment of unity across NY Jets fandom, there is a clear consensus on which positions Joe Douglas needs to spend the most time addressing in the offseason. Both the offensive line and wide receiver rooms need young talent, with the former likely taking precedence.

While the Jets did end up beating the Houston Texans in a convincing victory last week, they are still in possession of the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This puts them in a prime position to add a player who can be a high-end starter at one of the tackle spots for a decade or more.

The Big Three of tackle prospects in this class consist of Penn State's Olu Fashanu, Notre Dame's Joe Alt, and Alabama's JC Latham, with the former two slightly ahead on most big boards than the latter. Getting a player like Alt would be a dream, and that dream just moved one step closer to being real.

Alt declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, officially getting the hype train started. GMs like Douglas are always on the hunt for more quality linemen, and a 20-year-old player who stands 6-foot-8 and played at a blue-blood program is exactly what the Jets are looking for in their next star.

NY Jets target Joe Alt declares for 2024 NFL Draft

Despite originally becoming a Golden Domer as a tight end, Alt has quite an impressive pedigree. His brother Mark played in a handful of NHL games, and his father Joe was also a first-round pick in 1984 who made two Pro Bowls in his 13-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Alt has otherworldly mobility for a 6-8 lineman, and he pairs it with strength at the point of attack that helped the Fighting Irish keep the best pass rushers in the country in check. Of the three top linemen, Alt has a shot to be the most productive on Day 1.

There are some concerns about his overall footwork and his propensity to lunge at defenders that can be exploited in the pros, but his combination of raw power, size, and improving technical ability in run blocking could make Alt the franchise left tackle the Jets have been looking for since D'Brickashaw Ferguson retired.

With the perpetually injured Mekhi Becton a free agent after this season and far from a sure thing to play well when he's healthy, the Jets need to take a big swing to replace him. If a couple of lucky breaks go their way, the Jets might end up with a dominant player like Alt falling into their laps.

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