Will Laiatu Latu be the first defensive player picked for the 2024 NFL Draft?

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Lets talk about Laiatu Latu. CBS Sports lists him as the #1 edge rusher in the draft and the 9th best player. No other defensive player is rated ahead of him. ESPN rates him as the 14th best player in the draft, and the third best defensive player, behind cornerback Nate Wiggins and outside linebacker Dallas Turner.

Basic Information
- 23 years old. Will be 24 next December.
- 6'5, 230 pounds
- Played for one year for the Washington Huskies, and two years for the UCLA Bruins.
- Originally enrolled at Washington. After his freshman season, he suffered from a neck injury, which kept him out of the 2020 and 2021 football seasons.
- Transferred to UCLA and he put up all-star numbers for the next two seasons.
- In his last 24 starts, he produced 23.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 2 ints. Both ints occurred in his senior season.
- Won the Ted Hendricks Award (Top DE), Unanimous All-Team, Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Morris Trophy in 2023
- Named First Team All-Pac-12 in 2022 and 2023.

 

[eaglesnut]

Did he play the same position for Chip as Dion Jordan?

230?

 

[shopson67]

I doubt he's the first Edge off the board with his medicals (back).

 

[PDay8810]

Randy Gregory comes to mind carring 230 lbs.

 

[shopson67]

Did he play the same position for Chip as Dion Jordan?

230?

I've seen him listed as 265?

 

[Clayton]

I doubt he's the first Edge off the board with his medicals (back).

My guess is Dallas Turner is the first off the board because he is likely going to have a really good combine and you have 3 prospects (maybe 4) really close together.

I haven't looked at the EDGE class, though, because its the one position I know the Chiefs aren't drafting. Although they'll have to keep Spags out of the room.

 

[shopson67]

My guess is Dallas Turner is the first off the board because he is likely going to have a really good combine and you have 3 prospects (maybe 4) really close together.

I haven't looked at the EDGE class, though, because its the one position I know the Chiefs aren't drafting. Although they'll have to keep Spags out of the room.

Depends on what flavor each team wants. Someone like Verse could be the first if a bigger edge is desired. Turner is on the smaller side of the top edge prospects.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

His size and medical history could be red flags, I would think. I would also not use a first round pick on an edge guy unless I was sure he was a Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa game changer. Drafting a guy that might only be in on 3rd down and long seems like a waste of a top pick. I don't see this kid as much more than an extra rusher in that 3rd down package. At that size, he won't be in on early downs and be able to help in run fits.

 

[ducky]

The last two years CB's have went about 10 spots higher than where people were projecting them at this point in the draft process.

But yeah I would think Turner would rate above Latu by most NFL teams. Latu has some serious red flags with the age and the medical history.

Another guy that will work his way into the talk for top defensive player taken is going to be Newton.

 

[Edonidd]

Over aged.
Under sized.
Injury history
Good but not great sack numbers in a conference that passed all day every day, and doesn't overly concern itself with blocking.

Its not impossible, but he'll have to have a monster combine to show elite elite potential.

 

[Vitamike]

Lets talk about Laiatu Latu. CBS Sports lists him as the #1 edge rusher in the draft and the 9th best player. No other defensive player is rated ahead of him. ESPN rates him as the 14th best player in the draft, and the third best defensive player, behind cornerback Nate Wiggins and outside linebacker Dallas Turner.

Basic Information
- 23 years old. Will be 24 next December.
- 6'5, 230 pounds
- Played for one year for the Washington Huskies, and two years for the UCLA Bruins.
- Originally enrolled at Washington. After his freshman season, he suffered from a neck injury, which kept him out of the 2020 and 2021 football seasons.
- Transferred to UCLA and he put up all-star numbers for the next two seasons.
- In his last 24 starts, he produced 23.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 2 ints. Both ints occurred in his senior season.
- Won the Ted Hendricks Award (Top DE), Unanimous All-Team, Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Morris Trophy in 2023
- Named First Team All-Pac-12 in 2022 and 2023.

Keep him in LA!

With his talent he can learn so much from Donald!

Go Rams!

 

[NCChiFan]

230 lb edge? No thank you. Are we talking LB'r? Wr? Think Justin Fields is 6'3" 230lb, so QB?

 

[shopson67]

230 lb edge? No thank you. Are we talking LB'r? Wr? Think Justin Fields is 6'3" 230lb, so QB?

He's listed at 265lbs everywhere from what I've seen. I have no idea where 230 came from.

 

[cwalke3408]

6'2 185lbs, will test in the 4.3s and held his own vs NFL prospects such as Legette, Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, Devontez Walker