Colts draft DE Laiatu Latu - Round 1, Pick 15
 

Colts select the first defensive player of the draft.


https://twitter.com/FieldYates/statu...75822206796119

https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/st...81744627016039

https://twitter.com/CSimmsQB/status/1783676532264714300

https://nfldraft.theringer.com/


Here was the write-up about Latu in The Ringer. They rated him as the 7th best player in the draft.

Baldy likes the pick - "He's the best defensive player in this draft....and it is not even close."


https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1783676637793362058

It feels like he would have gone higher in the draft if it weren't for his medical history, so I like that.

That said I'm still shocked he was the first defensive player in the draft picked. Hopefully the scouts did their work, because I was hoping for Turner, and I hope the Jags don't make the Colts rue that choice.

Still I'm pretty damn happy. His skills look off the chart great, and seeing his emotion and his happiness for being a Colt was just fantastic to watch.

EDIT: Ahh, just noticed it was the Vikings who got Turner. Feel better about that.

We got EDGE1, boys! Let's fucking go! Latu is a game wrecker with an almost endless pass rush bag. Can't believe Ballard looked past the arms.

I was the one who voted for him in the “who do you want” poll!

Honestly, his medicals and his not being what I think Ballard considers ideal means I didn't even consider him.

I'm liking the pick more and more as the minutes go by though.

I wanted him, just didn't believe Ballard would look past the arms. Pearsall and Hart tomorrow would make me a VERY happy camper.

SOmeone posted PFFs draft profile on reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Colts/comme...draft_profile/

Seen somewhere this is similar to Montez Sweatt situation and Colts had regrets on passing on him

Makes sense, I had the same thought.

Thanks CB, you got one of the guys I was hoping for, a legitimate pass rusher !

I know we all hate him but Belichick seems to like him.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Colts/comme...t=share_button

That was one of the times I was very angry at Ballard. He was gifted Sweat at 26 that year, and chose to trade down for Ya-Sin instead. MPJ makes up for it, though.

I don't hate him. This pick is fantastic, quite possibly Ballard’s best first round pick other than AR to date.

I have good vibes about this. That kid’s energy is palpable too. You could feel it through the television.

I really wanted an offensive weapon but wow, how often have we been in the position where we get to pick ANY defensive player we want.

This is awesome.

If, and that's a big


IF

He stays healthy

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/st...08941169332457

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/st...09896019501253

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/st...10139381407952

I agree. The advise to medically retire, coupled with missing two years makes me wary of any type of injury to the guy. Let's hope he stays healthy for the next 6-10 years.

Everyone should give this a watch.

https://youtu.be/WgkKTYmjWGk?si=SZTHpt7F88U-Evt6

So we've said before, it would be nice if we lucked into our next Freeney/Mathis type DE.
Well he could be it, its why I picked him in the poll.

Its a risk (health), and maybe there was a bigger need at CB (with the idea that better coverage that forces QBs to hold on to the ball for 1-2 more seconds would let the pass-rush-by-committee thing we had last year work even better).

But still, getting someone who is a legit threat to pressure the QB on every snap can be a game changer.

He's not Freeney because he's not a freak athlete, and if you want Mathis in this draft, Mo Kamara should be available in Round 4. That said, Latu has the deepest set of pass rush moves I've ever seen on a prospect, which excites me for his NFL transition, because it shouldn't be as long as the transition for someone like Paye who had no pass rush moves.

I’m cautiously optimistic but it’s hard when you see “spinal fusion surgery”.

Doctors didn't have any concerns, Ballard asked. They seem to think risk of recurrence is low and he is capable of having a long career.

Ballard mentioned to McAfee that the neck concerns were alleviated because that had two years of tape on him.

It's always going to be in the back of your mind, but it's not like this just happened. He played two full, productive seasons post-injury.

Didnt he play and excel for 2 seasons post surgery? Honestly any of these players are a freak hit away from injury

Anyone else hear his college coach said “he was the best TE on our team”

Dudes a freak

Latu positives:

Latu's surgery was performed by the same Doc who performed Peyton's surgery.

You can't compare him to Leighton Vander Esch because Vander Esch never had the surgery before entering the draft. So he played several season with a bad neck.

NFL.com Lance Zierlein has a Latu player comp is TJ Watt and I think that is an accurate comparison.

Latu is guy with production and skills not traits and hope. Almost every draft analyst, coach and NFL executive believe that Latu is the most skilled pass rusher they have seen in years.

this pick is growing on me.


didn't think he would even be on the colts board at all.

It’s the production instead of just traits that make me happy with the pick. After striking out drafting raw athletes at the position CB took a different tact and got the technician this time. And not a bad athlete by any measure. Without the injury concern he’s likely not there. Worth the risk IMO.

I meant we hate Bill.

o


Latu's phone call conversation with Chris Ballard and Harvey Steichen, upon being notified about the Colts drafting him in the 1st round ......



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJZZshoiLs

o

Oh, yes, definitely hate for the cheater, but great breakdown of Latu.

Knows how to use tape

https://x.com/coltsfilmroom/status/1...L8ardaxv32vrGQ

Shane Steichen looks like a bad used car salesman in that jacket.

More positives:

Studies tape like a pro

Pro comps of the already mentioned TJ Watt...but also Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson

Ted Hendricks award winner, Lombardi award winner

UCLA Athletic Honor Roll

Also so a pro comp of Matt Judon

Also

https://x.com/solvingfootball/status...L8ardaxv32vrGQ

More:

https://www.colts.com/news/experts-a...rst-round-pick

It really seems like his only concerns are health, and I guess some typical weakness concerns most prospects have (like not elite gap closing or whatever).

I get the health concern, but the fact he already had the surgery and has played two years seems to make it less of a concern to me.

Regarding the health concerns, what exactly is it that everyone is concerned about? I get he medically retired, but if that issue is fixed, is it really a concern?

Given that it was fixed, does this mean his neck issues are more likely to come back? That is a legit concern if it's true, I just don't know if there's any evidence to know it's true.

And say it is. We all know that every football player has like a certain percent chance in their career of having a career ending injury. Say it's 5% or something. Is his chance due to this issue more like 10%? 15%? 20%?

If he's as elite as I hear, even a 20% chance is probably worth taking a gamble on. That said, there's a percentage where it wouldn't be wise to gamble on, I just don't know what it is and what his is.

According to Ballard (and as you would think any NFL team investing millions into an athlete would), they got access to the nitty gritty of his medical history and had lots of discussion.

Ballard is cautious, so you have to imagine the prognosis was a strong positive.