When the Colts selected Laiatu Latu 15th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, they knew they got away with a massive steal. General manager Chris Ballard even laughed as they turned in the pick, declaring they wound up with the best pass rusher in the draft without having to move up in the order.
#Colts GM Chris Ballard hysterically laughing in the war room after no defensive players were taken in the first 14 picks and Laiatu Latu was available for them.
“We got the best ****** rusher in the draft.”pic.twitter.com/lebMsykDOG https://t.co/awVYlhOinz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 28, 2024
Latu spent his rookie year adapting to the speed of the NFL game. He certainly appeared to belong, but the production wasn’t quite there. He registered 4.0 sacks in 17 games.
After showing flashes of his potential as a rookie, there are higher expectations for Latu entering his second year. His talent level is too high to not continue improving.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell agrees. He called Latu a “special” talent and one of two Colts players who would be worthy of a first-round pick as return in a potential trade.
“Latu wasn’t always a consistently impactful pass rusher last season, but he made some offensive linemen look foolish, including a snap in which he dusted superstar Lions tackle Penei Sewell one-on-one,” he writes. “The 2024 first-rounder had some trouble converting his hard work into sacks, but there’s a compelling player here with the potential to be something special if he develops further.”
Rookie Laiatu Latu gets a win vs RT Penei Sewell on 3rd Down pic.twitter.com/sAZUklrks6
— NFL Shock (@NFLShock) November 26, 2024
Finishing plays has been an area Latu has dialed in on this offseason, his first true offseason in the NFL.
“I definitely honed in on power…I’ve definitely elevated my game since last year,” he told the media.
The Colts are highly unlikely to even consider a trade which ships Latu off somewhere else, but there’s no denying that if he can continue to develop and become a force off the edge, interested teams would have to pay a premium.
