Rookie Profile: Laiatu Latu, Edge, Indianapolis Colts
Welcome to the Rookie Profile for Laiatu Latu is an edge rusher out of UCLA. He is from Sacramento, CA, and was a 4-star recruit out of Jesuit High School in Sacramento, CA.
He started his career with the Washington Huskie where he appeared in 8 games as a freshman. In that 2019 season, he recorded 10 solo tackles, 5 assists, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass defended.
He sustained a neck injury during the 2020 season which forced him to miss the season and ultimately led to a brief retirement from football altogether. After being medically cleared, he transferred to UCLA for his junior season in 2022.
In his first year with UCLA, he appeared in 13 games where he recorded 23 solo tackles, 13 assists, 12.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 forced fumbles. A truly elite season that demonstrated his potential as an elite edge rusher.
His final collegiate season in 2023 saw him appear in 12 games where he piled up 28 solo tackles, 21 assists, 12.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 1 Pick 15
- Latu ended the longest run in an NFL Draft without a defensive player selected in recent memory. He was the first defensive player taken off the board at Pick 15 overall. The once medically retired Latu almost saw his football career come to an end before he ever got the chance to hear his name called. His draft capital signifies his potential as an elite pass-rusher with a long and bright future ahead of him.
Landing Spot- Indianapolis Colts
- Latu joins an already solid defensive unit that had the fifth most sacks last season and will bolster it even further. He will be an infusion of youth on a roster that’s a mix of newcomers and declining veterans. Latu figures to be the anchor of this unit for as long as he can stay healthy. He is versatile enough to play both standing up and with his hand in the ground and will be a force to be reckoned with on the edge for Indianapolis for many years.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Starting Edge Rusher
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
The first defensive player on the board gives every indication of being an elite IDP producer for many years to come. He is unlikely to go ahead of either Dallas Turner or Jared Verse in IDP rookie drafts but should settle in as the consensus third-overall selection.
His values are as safe as they come and is an excellent selection for any IDP manager. Latu is going to rack up both high tackle numbers and high sack numbers and will produce from the second he steps on the field for the Colts.
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
