Mock draft season is upon us.
According to Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar’s latest mock, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is staying in Los Angeles. With the 19th overall pick, the Rams select Latu to help bolster their front seven.
With the recent retirement of former Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald, the Rams add Latu to fill in the gap.
Donald, a disrupter in the run and passing game, will be missed along the Rams’ defensive line. The Rams’ defense ranked 24th in both total passing and rushing defense. Needing to inject some talent into their line, taking Latu makes perfect sense for them in the first round.
With a strong pass-rushing ability as well as NFL-caliber size and athleticism, Latu could be a turn-key addition to the Rams’ defense and have a day-one impact.
Given the high price that edge players control on the free agent market, Latu would also be a bargain for Los Angeles at 19th overall, with four years of team control and the potential to pick up his fifth-year option.