Colts would be wise to choose a top edge defender in the 2024 NFL Draft, and…

The Indianapolis Colts have the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and selecting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with a mid-round pick would be excellent.

Since Robert Mathis retired in 2017, the Colts have struggled at the edge rusher position. Latu can change that because he owns the abilities and characteristics that can help this defense become outstanding.#

The Colts recorded a franchise high 51 sacks in 2023, but they still lack a serious pass-rushing threat. Veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will return to cause havoc in the middle of the line.

There is also anticipation that defensive tackle Grover Stewart may return to the middle. So, if the Colts can snag 6-4, 265-pound Laiatu Latu at the  End of the line, the sky’s the limit for this defensive front.

Why Laiatu Latu Could Be a Good Fit for the Indianapolis Colts
His resume from UCLA speaks for itself.

Laiatu Latu began his career at Washington as a true freshman in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, he would be sidelined with a severe preseason neck injury that jeopardized his football future. Regardless, Latu was determined to play football again.

Eventually, he would join the UCLA Bruins in 2022 and become one of the league’s best pass rushers. In two years at UCLA, he recorded 23.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 34 tackles for loss. He finished ninth in the NCAA in sacks in 2022, with 10.5 sacks, and tied for fourth in 2023, with 13 sacks.

In addition to being a high-producing pass rusher, Latu has received various trophies. He was named 2023 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. In 2023, he got both the Ted Hendricks Award and the Vince Lombardi Award.

Previous winners of the Vince Lombardi Award include Will Anderson Jr., the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Adian Hutchinson, the 2022 NFL Rookie of the Year. Latu’s 2023 season at UCLA was his greatest yet, and he cemented his place in college football history.

His Game-Changing Ability

Turnovers, quarterback pressure, and tackles for loss are all examples of game-changing defensive line plays. In his final season at UCLA, Latu made game-changing plays on a massive scale. In 12 games in 2023, he recorded 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

He would lead the NCAA in tackles for loss by a single player in 2023. If the Indianapolis Colts can get a player like as Laiatu Latu, it will help set the tone on defense. In the NFL, games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense.

His Fit Within the Defensive Line

As previously said, the Colts have two good middle-line tackles in DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. Indianapolis also has two good linebackers, Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed.

The only position that is consistently inconsistent is the edge rusher position. This is where Laiatu Latu would be ideal for the Colts. He is large, strong, and swift. As a result, combining his strengths with the veterans currently on the line will relieve burden on the youthful secondary and shift it to opposing offenses.