Bold predictions for Laiatu Latu's rookie season

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

Many didn't view edge as one of the Colts' biggest needs, and I honestly don't think they did either. This pick was all about the special talent they saw in Latu, and I think he will have a bigger role early on than people realize. 

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.

The Colts' edge room has some talented players, such as Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo. They were the team's sack leaders last season, along with DeForest Buckner, who ended the season tied with Odeyingbo with eight sacks. So, with so much production returning in the edge room, what will Latu's role be as a rookie? 

For most rookie edge rushers, I'd say they would be a key rotational piece at best in the Colts' current edge room. But Latu isn't like most rookie edge rushers. During his two-year stint at UCLA, Latu was among the best pass rushers in all of 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 your typical 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. 

Latu Rookie Predictions: 

Prediction: Latu wins Defensive Rookie of the Year

I believe the Colts will make Latu a day-one starter due to his specific skill set as a pass rusher. I think it will lead to him having the strongest rookie season of any defensive player this season and, in turn, earn him the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 

Prediction: Latu surpasses ten sacks and helps another player do so as well

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 see Latu have 10+ sacks as a rookie. If he can have that level of production, I believe it will also open up more opportunities for a dominant force like Buckner to see fewer double teams than potentially ever during his tenure as a Colt and would result in him also surpassing the ten sacks threshold next season.