The 2024 NFL draft will be known for the many sons following in their fathers' footsteps in the league.
While receivers Marvin Harrison Jr and Brenden Rice might be at the forefront of the conversation, Notre Dame LT Joe Alt is a Kansas City Chiefs legacy. His father, John Alt, is a Chiefs Hall of Famer who played 13 seasons for the franchise from 1984 through 1996. He never played for another franchise and helped block for Todd Blackledge, Bill Kenney, Steve DeBerg, Dave Krieg, Joe Montana, Steve Bono, and Rich Gannon during his tenure with the team.
Appearing on NFL Network last week with chief national reporter Steve Wyche, Joe revealed the best advice he's received from his father leading up to the 2024 NFL draft.
“For me, my dad has obviously been a huge help both on and off the field football-wise, really coaching me and teaching me what football is and how to be a man," Alt explained to Wyche. "I think the biggest thing that he's taught me in this draft process and as this next step comes, is to stay true to who I am and what has gotten me to this to where I am today. That's my hard work, and never let that go away. Something that he's always grilled into me is, that you want to be the hardest worker, and you can always fall back on your preparation. I think that's been the biggest thing. It's the next step, obviously talent increases, speed increases and everything increases, so you've got to go back to what's gotten you there before and work that much harder to continue to try and be successful at the next level."
Joe is a consensus first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and there is a strong belief he'll be selected in the top 10. Betting markets suggest he'll be selected no later than pick No. 7 by the Tennessee Titans. Of course, being such a high draft pick means there will be a lot of pressure on Alt to succeed as he enters the NFL.
The advice from Joe's father, who was picked No. 21 in the 1984 NFL draft, is perfect regardless of where he is selected in the draft. Even if someone is bigger or faster than you, you'll always have a chance if you outwork your opponents and prepare the best way. If he falls back on his fundamentals and everything that earned him a chance to be selected in the draft, he can't go wrong at the next level.
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