Former UCLA Bruins defensive star Laiatu Latu was named by Pro Football Focus as one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL Draft. The list named 20 of them, and Rome Odunze for the Chicago Bears was the first on the list. Latu was taken in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say:
Latu captured five of nine top spots in PFF’s key grading facets among eligible EDGE defenders and earned an elite 94.3 pass-rush grade this past season.
The medical concerns clearly didn’t scare everyone off, as Latu ended up as the first defensive player off the board — but not until the Colts came on the clock at No. 15. Latu’s pass-rushing bag is as deep as any edge prospect we’ve seen in the past few years, and he pairs that with a quick first step and great closing speed. He has the potential to be a double-digit sack guy as early as his rookie season.
Now it is time to get to work for Latu and the Colts to live up to the big billing he was given.