In a 2024 NFL redraft, the Colts pass on DE Laiatu Latu and instead take another pass rusher.
Only one year removed from the 2024 NFL draft, it is still too early to truly evaluate this class, but Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick is setting that to the side for the time being and redrafting the entire first round. So, who did the Indianapolis Colts select this time around?
Originally, the Colts picked UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu with the 15th overall selection. This time, however, the Colts passed on Latu in favor of Florida State defensive end Jared Verse.
“Verse was the best pass rusher in a class with several top performers,” wrote Flick. “He recorded 77 pressures in the regular season, fourth-most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Including the postseason, Verse had 89 pressures, the most in the league. He had just 4.5 sacks, but Verse’s disruptive impact was evident each week.”
As noted by Flick, Verse went on to have a highly impressive rookie season. Not only was he the most disruptive rookie at the defensive end position, but he was also one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL in terms of quarterback pressures. And with that, he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Latu did not have that level of production. His 38 pressures were the second-most on the Colts and ranked 47th among defensive ends in that category, according to PFF.
However, one reason for optimism as Latu heads into Year 2 is that he also ranked 27th in pass rush win rate, which, as it sounds, measures how often a pass rusher is beating the blocker across from them. And where there is consistency, the production will often follow.
“Verse won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year,” added Flick, “and he certainly outplayed several picks ahead of him, but the Colts wouldn’t complain. Indianapolis received encouraging flashes from Latu.”