The 2024 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Laiatu Latu 2024 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
School: UCLA
Size: 6-foot-5, 265 pounds
Class: Senior
2023 stats: 49 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles
Latu spent time at two schools and was even medically retired before resurrecting his career. He is now in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As a four-star prospect in the class of 2019, Latu signed with Washington out of the state of California. He registered 15 total tackles in his freshman season. Following that, he didn’t play for the next two seasons and medically retired due to a neck injury. He transferred to UCLA in 2022 and was cleared to play. Latu created an impact with 36 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. His play helped UCLA win nine games. In 2023, his production continued, as he had 49 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He led the Bruins to an eight-win season.
Following the season, Latu declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a first-round pick.
Latu has great pass-rush moves, which helps him be a highly productive player. He has rip, swim, chop and club moves along with several variations. Latu has a pass-rush plan and executes it well. When his first move doesn’t work, he can counter well. His moves are good enough to make him an NFL-ready prospect.
His motor is really good. Latu plays like his hair is on fire. When his initial rush move is stopped, he keeps moving towards the quarterback. He has his fair share of effort sacks. Against the run, he works hard to shed his blocks and shows good pursuit, taking good angles to the ball carrier to make plays.
He has great versatility for an edge rusher. Latu was used in coverage sparingly as an outside linebacker. He showed he can rush with his hand in the ground or standing. His ability to rush from the interior or on the edge is also valuable. Latu can fit into a few different types of defenses at the NFL level and could play different roles.
The biggest red flag for Latu is his medical history. He was forced to medically retire at Washington due to a neck injury. While that was cleared by UCLA, it may not be cleared by NFL doctors. Even if some teams clear him, others may not have him on their draft boards. Medical red flags could cause him to fall in the draft.
While he is a solid athlete, Latu has an average burst at the snap of the ball. He doesn’t time the snap of the ball well and can be a little late to the action. That late first step puts him at a disadvantage. His pass-rush moves and motor help him win despite not having the best get off at the line of scrimmage.
Latu has solid strength, but it can come and go. This is because he doesn’t always have the best leverage. His pad level can get too high, which stalls his progress. He will need to work on keeping his pad level down to retain his power.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second Round Pick
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