Colts draft UCLA edge Laiatu Latu at No. 15 overall in 2024 NFL Draft

After a record streak of offensive picks, the Indianapolis Colts broke the pattern by selecting one of the most attractive pass rushers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Indianapolis selected UCLA edge Laiatu Latu with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Detroit.

The Atlanta Falcons’ surprising selection of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 broke the 2021 record of consecutive offensive players take to start a draft. The offensive surge kept going, though, with six quarterbacks, four offensive tackles, three wide receivers and one tight end having their names called before the Colts were up.

They selected Latu as the first defensive player in the draft, effectively dispelling any worries about the Bruins’ chaos-creator falling.

Good Morning Football‘s Peter Schrager reported Thursday morning that teams were split on Latu after a college career marked by equal parts stellar play (23.5 sacks over the last two seasons) and worrisome injuries (a neck injury forced him to medically retire during his time at Washington). Clearly, Colts general manager Chris Ballard wasn’t worried too much, as he bolstered an already impressive pass rush that features Kwity Paye, DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam and was sixth in sacks in 2023.

Indy has now acquired potentially the most skilled pass rusher in the 2024 draft, as Latu exhibits technical prowess on the edge.

The 23-year-old holds a PhD in hand usage. He is skilled at swatting, ripping, stabbing, and countering any rush to keep blockers away from his body. His technical expertise, along with his unstoppable drive, gives Latu an advantage over tackles.

Latu produced impressive statistics during his two years at UCLA, including one year as a full-time starter. He achieved 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, 85 tackles, five forced fumbles, two interceptions, and defended five passes. In 2023, he was unanimously named an All-American and was a first-team All-Pac-12 member in both years of his tenure with the Bruins.

Latu’s primary concern entering the draft process was his medical history. He had medically retired after a neck injury in 2020, following one year at Washington. After a two-year hiatus from football, he received medical clearance to return and transferred to UCLA. Normally, such a medical history would deter teams, but in Latu’s case, his potential was too high to ignore.

Latu, with his impressive size, intelligence, speed, instincts, and tenacity, is a formidable force off the edge. He is expected to make a significant impact as a rookie player for the Colts.