A pair of Chargers rookies have been off and running thus far — and they've been among the league's best a quarter of the way through the 2024 season.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice recently put out his rankings of the top 25 rookies in the NFL, with the Bolts being one of only four teams to have multiple players on the list.
The first was Chargers first-round pick Joe Alt coming in at No. 10, who has been stellar in his first couple of pro games.
Alt was the second offensive tackle on Filice's list, mainly because he's been able to flash the ability that made him the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft against some of the league's best edge rushers.
Filice wrote:
A mountain of a man at 6-8, 322 pounds, Alt has a game has often been described as "boringly effective" -- his reps might not be as flashy as some other blockers' pancakes, but the guy typically just gets the job done. That was certainly the case in Week 1, when Alt aced a hellacious opening assignment, holding Maxx Crosby to zero pressures in his pass-blocking snaps against the perennial Pro Bowler. T.J. Watt gave Alt some trouble in Week 3 -- a game in which Alt sprained his MCL, sidelining him for Week 4 -- but the rookie has shown plenty of promise as a sturdy bookend. And that's despite switching from the left side to the right upon arrival in Los Angeles, with accomplished blind-side protector Rashawn Slater already in the fold.
The numbers also back Alt up in all facets through his first three pro games.
The No. 5 overall pick leads all rookie tackles with at least 100 snaps in Pro Football Focus' offensive grade (77.0) and run blocking grade (77.8). He is second with a 68.9 pass blocking grade.
The Notre Dame product has also given up the fewest number of pressures (three) among the rookie tackles and third overall among all rookie offensive linemen with at least 100 snaps.
Alt has been a crucial part of the Bolts offense as a whole in the early part of the season, as has Chargers second-round pick Ladd McConkey, who also made Filice's list.
The rookie wide receiver was No. 22 overall and the fourth wide receiver in the rankings, as he's quickly taken steps game by game and become a reliable target for quarterback Justin Herbert and the offense.
Filice wrote:
Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers are clearly a run-first operation. But the rookie out of Georgia has quickly become the Bolts' most consistent threat in the passing game, comfortably leading the team in targets (24), receptions (15), receiving yards (176) and receiving first downs (10). Whether juking multiple defenders into virality, deftly navigating the back of the end zone or exploding into the open field, McConkey's a playmaker.
McConkey is tied for the highest PFF receiving grade (82.0) among all rookie wide receivers and is second in offensive grade (80.2) among players with at least 10 targets.
He's shown to be a threat in particular with the ball in his hands, as his 89 yards after the catch are fourth among the rookie class.
Coming off the bye week, Alt, McConkey and the rest of the rookie class will continue to have an opportunity to make their mark on the Chargers season beginning Sunday in Denver.
To read Filice's list, click here.
