Colts draft DE Laiatu Latu - Round 1, Pick 15

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Colts select the first defensive player of the draft.


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

DE Laiatu Latu had easily the best tape of any defensive player in the entire draft class.

He’s as advanced of a pass rusher as you’ll find coming out of college.

As long as his health holds up, that’s an absolute steal for the Colts.

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

Laiatu Latu to the Colts at No. 15.

Thoughts:

- Incredibly productive, which matters a lot to the Colts. 23.5 sacks and 34 TFL's in the past 2 seasons.

- Given all the solid options on the board, you have to assume the Colts are ultra confident in the medicals here.

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

#15 Colts

Laiatu Latu is the best on-film edge rusher in the Draft.

Seattle scheme and let him line up wide - could do some real damage.

They are building a real deep d-line in Indy

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

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.

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY

Latu plays as if he’s spent the last month training blindfolded in Bloodsport. The UCLA star has a rugged frame and rushes the passer with excellent first-step burst and elite hand-fighting skills. He uncoils out of his stance and slaps, chops, and swats away opponents’ hands with a full array of clubs in his bag as a rusher. He uses swim moves, cross chops, side scissors, hump moves, push-pull moves, a bounding Euro-step move, a bull rush, and an effective spin move, among others—and that well-developed repertoire has helped him displace opponents’ momentum and lead the country in pass-rush win rate (40.7 percent) in true pass set situations last year, per PFF. Latu gets after the passer with ferocious intensity and a nonstop motor, showcasing turbo acceleration and good bend when turning the corner. He’s a flexible athlete who can dip his shoulder, plant his foot, and flatten to the quarterback.

Latu primarily lines up outside but does see some snaps inside rushing against guards, who consistently struggle to deal with his quickness, burst, and handwork. He also has some experience spot dropping in space. Against the run, Latu does a good job establishing leverage and stacking his opponent, using his strong, powerful hands to shed blockers. He’s a supreme hustler and never gives up on a play.

Latu lacks elite length for the edge rusher position and may lack the bulk to consistently play inside. There are times when he gets too high at the snap and is pushed off the ball against the run. His medicals will be the biggest question in his evaluation, though, and teams will have to dig into a neck injury that caused him to temporarily retire from football in 2021.

WHY HE COULD RISE

Latu is a remarkably slippery pass rusher who consistently beats blocks with savvy hand-fighting techniques; he’s one of the most consistently disruptive defenders in the country.

WHY HE COULD FALL

Some teams may give him a medical red flag because of his history with a neck injury.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

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

[nate505]

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.

[Dam8610]

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.

[HoosierinFL]

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

[nate505]

Originally Posted by HoosierinFL

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.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by HoosierinFL

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

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

[Butter]

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

[apballin]

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