Tag: Laiatu Latu

This offseason, there have been two clear points of emphasis for the Colts. The first was that they prioritized re-signing their own players over making outside additions. The second was bolstering their defensive front, and not only for 2024 but for 2025 and beyond.

In the last few months, we’ve seen the Colts re-sign Grover Stewart to a three-year deal. They also added Raekwon Davis as an outside free agent on a two-year contract and extended DeForest Buckner through the 2026 season.

Then, in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Colts further bolstered their pass rush by selecting UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.

“I think our defensive front is the best since we’ve been here. It’s excellent. It’s excellent, and we’re really excited about it.”

Buckner has been one of the best, most well-rounded interior defenders for several seasons now. Stewart’s presence was greatly missed in the run game last season when the Colts were without him. To put it simply, this was a completely different run defense unit when he was on the field versus off.

That is where the addition of Davis comes into play to help beef up the interior defensive line rotation during obvious running downs or when Stewart isn’t on the field.

Latu will be tasked with adding more consistency to the Colts’ pass rush overall. Although this is a defense that set a franchise record in sacks in 2023  and totaled the fifth-most in football, they did not get after the quarterback regularly, ranking 23rd in pressures. From a sustainability standpoint, if the Colts are going to duplicate that sack production in 2024, they’ll have to generate pressure more consistently.

Latu has been one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football in the last two seasons. In 2023, he ranked first in pass rush win rate and fifth in total pressures.

Success for any defensive unit begins with the play in the trenches. For a Colts’ defense that still has some question marks in the secondary, the defensive front’s ability to stop the run and get after the quarterback can benefit the defensive backs greatly.

When a front is able to limit the run game, it puts the offense in long down-and-distance situations, where the pass rush can pin its ears back, and the defensive backs have the advantage from a coverage standpoint. It’s these instances that can lead to turnover opportunities as well.

And, of course, we all know that the name of the game in today’s NFL is pressuring the quarterback. Without that element, most offenses will pick defenses apart.

The fastest and most effective way to disrupt any offensive play, whether it’s a run or a pass, is with a quick push up the middle and from the defensive front. When that is taking place, there isn’t a position group on the field that doesn’t benefit.

Soon, the Colts will have to make a decision on whether or not they will pick up Kwity Paye’s fifth-year option for the 2025 season. This is another potential move that could again showcase the Colts’ willingness to solidify this unit.

“Our stable up front, it’s good,” said Ballard. “We’re really good up front.”

With literally all of the top defenders in this year’s draft class still on the board when the Colts were picking, they chose UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who will immediately bolster their pass rush.

Although the Colts finished the 2023 season ranked fifth in total sacks, they also ranked 22nd in pressure rate and 23rd in total pressures. If the Colts hope to repeat that level of sack production in 2024 – and of course they do – they’ll have to get after the quarterback more consistently.

What last year’s numbers tell us is that they were turning pressures into sacks at a very high rate, ranking in the top 10 in that category. From a repeatability and sustainability standpoint, that’s statistically not something they can duplicate in 2024.

Latu will become an immediate impact member of this rotation. He was considered by many to be the top edge rusher in this class. Over the last two seasons, he has been one of the most disruptive pass rushers in football.

In 2023 specifically, Latu posted 62 pressures, which was tied for the fifth-most among edge rushers. He also ranked first in PFF’s pass-rush grade and first in pass-rush win rate. Latu would rank 12th in run defense grade as well.

From a long-term perspective, as we look ahead to 2025, both Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo are both set to be free agents. The Colts still have the opportunity to pick up Paye’s fifth-year option for 2025.

A run on quarterbacks, offensive tackles, the top three receivers, and Brock Bowers at the top of the NFL draft resulted in a very favorable board for the Indianapolis Colts.

Before the Colts were on the clock at pick 15, six quarterbacks were selected. As expected, receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze were off the board as well. Also taken were offensive tackles JC Latham and Olu Fashanu, along with top tight end Bowers.

So, for the Colts, this pushed down the top defenders in the draft class. In fact, they were the first team to select a defensive player.

This run on offensive players early on was not unexpected. As GM Chris Ballard mentioned in his pre-draft press conference, there was a lot more talent on that side of the ball in this year’s draft class.

“I will say this,” said Ballard, “I do think you’re going to see a lot of offensive players taken early in the first round. I’m not saying it’s a weak defensive class, but it is a really strong offensive draft, especially at the top of it.”

This really was a near picture-perfect scenario for the Colts, with edge rusher and cornerback being two of their biggest needs. And to land a top prospect, it did not require them to trade up–something that had been speculated on earlier in the week.

Instead, the Colts were able to choose from cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold, along with edge rushers Dallas Turner and Laiatu Latu.

The Colts ultimately went with Latu, who will bolster a pass rush unit that has to be more consistent in 2024 after ranking 23rd in pressures last season. Latu has been one of the most productive pass rushers in college football for the last two seasons.