The Indianapolis Colts added some intriguing talent to the defense by selecting edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Though there are some questions with his medical history as it pertains to a neck injury he suffered during his time at Washington, the Colts felt comfortable enough to choose Latu over every defensive player available.
The Colts believe Latu was the best defensive player in the entire draft and one of a handful of elite prospects throughout the entire class.
GRADE: How we graded the Colts picking Laiatu Latu
NFL draft experts noted Latu's polished pass-rushing skills but also expressed caution given his injury history.
NFL draft experts grade Colts picking Laiatu Latu
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | Grade: A
Latu is an explosive, versatile pass rusher coming off a huge season of production in Westwood. The Colts were looking for an impact defender and had to jump on a dropping elite sack artist vs. a top cornerback. GM Chris Ballard adds a promising complement to DeForest Buckner.
Nate Davis, USA TODAY | Grade: B
The first defensive player of the board makes for a very appropriate Chris Ballard pick. Latu is by far the most polished pass rusher in this class, so there's a good chance he makes waves out of the gate. While adding an edge rusher might not have seemed as pressing as bringing on a cornerback - and the top two options in Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell were both available here - recall that the Colts pushed for Danielle Hunter this spring before the former Minnesota Vikings standout signed with the Houston Texans. So long as Latu's injury problems don't flare up again, he should be a reliable presence on the edge who generates consistent pressure.
Bleacher Report | Grade: B
While the Colts set a franchise record last season with 51 sacks, Gus Bradley's defense lacked someone who can consistently win one-on-one matchups. The unit now has that defender in Latu.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com | Grade: B+
Latu's has an inspirational story. A neck injury forced him to retire from football at Washington, but he came back with a vengeance the past two years at UCLA after being cleared to play. He combines the power to take tackles into the backfield, the strong hands to disengage for secondary rushes if quarterbacks step up to avoid him and the closing speed to chase down ball-carriers. However, the potential risk based on his injury history is reflected in the grade.
The Athletic | Grade: B+
Latu should help in every area, and he’ll also entere the NFL as one of its best stories. His NFL dream nearly was derailed by a neck injury in 2020, which caused him to miss two seasons and led him to medically retire while at Washington; he was cleared to play again after surgery, then transferred to UCLA in 2022.
The only question is whether a cornerback might have been a more impactful pick, but Latu is a keeper.
Pro Football Focus | Grade: Very Good
The first defensive player comes off the board. Latu was the most productive pass rusher in college football over the past two seasons at UCLA, leading all qualifiers in PFF pass-rush grade (94.5) and pass-rush win rate (23.1%). If it weren’t for medical red flags, there’s a good chance that Latu would have been viewed as a consensus top-10 prospect in this class.
For more Colts coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on Sporting News.
