Colts Stick With Their Pick in 2024 Re-Draft

The Indianapolis Colts have struggled to identify, draft, and develop edge rush help over the last decade, often ending up with players who fail to meet their potential or outright bust.

One of the team's most recent premium-pick swings is Laiatu Latu, whom the Colts selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Colts were fortunate to pick where they did in a historically deep offensive draft, as Latu was the very first defensive player chosen near the midway point of the first round.

With that label, the pressure has been immense on Latu to meet the expectations of being the first defensive player chosen in the draft.

Overall, he has been a productive player, with 12.5 sacks through his first two years, but not quite to the level that the Colts have needed. That may change this year, though, as Latu is expected to take the natural next step to becoming a double-digit sack player.

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Recently, Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports put together a redo of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Colts stick with their pick at No. 15, once again taking Latu out of UCLA.

"Latu quietly made a nice jump in 2025, his first season as a full-time starter," Pereles wrote. "He more than doubled his sacks (4.0 to 8.5) from his rookie year, posted a solid 14.7% pressure rate, and somehow nabbed three(!) interceptions, two of which were outstanding individual plays. He's one of just two defensive linemen to post a three-interception season this century."

Latu was a role player as a rookie in 2024, rotating with veterans Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis. Latu started just one of 17 games and recorded 4.0 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss before becoming a full-time starter in 2025. He took a leap in year two, leading the Colts with 8.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, and 12 tackles for loss.

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"I like where Latu is at. I did think Latu played really good football," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said after the 2025 season. "He ended up with 8.5 sacks. There were some close-but-no-cigar plays that I think would’ve put him at about 14 that he needs to finish. Ended up with three picks... So we like his trend upwards, and I think he's going to continue to get better."

According to Pro Football Focus, Latu was the NFL's 10th-best edge defender, with a grade of 84.1. Some of that was due to having the 21st-best pass-rushing grade (77.0), with his 61 pressures ranking 19th, but the X-factor was Latu's effectiveness in coverage, as he snagged three interceptions.

While Latu has generated plenty of pressure through two years, sack numbers are what people will remember, so it's critical that his career numbers go from 4.0 sacks to 8.5 to beyond 10.0 in 2026.