Predictions for Indianapolis Colts 2024 1st round pick edge rusher Laiatu Latu's rookie NFL season

The Indianapolis Colts used the 15th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu .

Latu has impressed fans and those in the Colts building after a strong summer ahead of his rookie season. He capped it off with his first NFL sack of the preseason during the team's Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

But what should the expectations be for his rookie season? I decided to share my thoughts on the topic as well as the factors that are in play.

Typically, we see rookie edge rushers have slow starts to their NFL careers. But Latu isn't like most rookie edge rushers. During his two-year stint at UCLA, Latu was among the best pass rushers in college football. He ended his time there with 23.5 sacks and 34.0 tackles for loss. And while that type of production is incredible, I don't think it's the biggest reason to have optimism for him to have an earlier impact than the average rookie edge rusher.

To say Latu's bag of pass-rush moves is deep would be an understatement. On tape, we see him display so many different counters, and even more impressive is his understanding of when to use which specific move to beat his assignment across from him. Like I said earlier, the Colts have some solid players already in the edge room, but they've been missing one key piece, in my opinion. That being a true dominant number one pass rusher to lead the room for the future. And Latu certainly has the makeup to be that guy for the Colts.

Laiatu Latu Rookie Predictions:

Prediction: Latu wins Defensive Rookie of the Year

I believe sooner rather than later, Latu will be a full-time starter, especially with 2023 sack leader Samson Ebukam set to miss the majority, if not the entire 2024 season, with a torn Achilles . This will likely lead to him having the biggest day one role of any defensive player from he 2024 NFL Draft class, and earning him the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Prediction: Latu surpasses ten sacks as a rookie

Last year, Ebukam led the Colts with 9.5 sacks, and I think Latu will surpass that number in year one. My personal prediction is that we will see Latu have 10+ sacks as a rookie, especially with defenses also having to focus on star DT DeForest Buckner as well as multiple productive other pass rushers in the edge room. Latu has been drawn comparisons to T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa this offseason . If he can come anywhere close to those players' All-Pro talent, I think the Colts will be very happy with their selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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