Colts draft DE Laiatu Latu - Round 1, Pick 15

[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.