Expectations are climbing fast around Laiatu Latu, and for the Colts, that makes sense. With the edge room rebuilt and plenty of uncertainty around the new faces, the third-year defensive end suddenly looks like the player Indianapolis can least afford to miss on in 2026.
The Colts moved on from veterans Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis this offseason, then filled those spots with Arden Key, Micheal Clemons, George Gumbs Jr., and Caden Curry. That group brings upside, but not much in the way of proven production. So the pressure lands squarely on Latu, who is now the clear headliner in a pass-rushing group that still has plenty to prove.
Shane Steichen made it clear recently that the Colts are expecting a big step. “I think he's worked tremendously hard this offseason," Colts head coach Shane Steichen recently said about Latu.
"Obviously, we're not in pads right now, but he's had some good pass rush moves, and you can see the strength and explosiveness off the ball. So, obviously want a big year from him, and I know he wants that as well.”
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox echoed that confidence when he named Latu the Colts’ “most promising building block” in his look at every NFL team. Knox pointed to Indianapolis’ defensive overhaul, noting that the team “worked to reload a defense that ranked 23rd overall last season,” and highlighted Latu as the one defensive piece already in place.
“Latu, a 2024 first-round pick out of UCLA, showed flashes during his rookie season but wasn't a consistent difference-maker,” Knox wrote. “However, he became that in 2025, finishing the year with 45 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits.
“Now established as a disruptive edge-rusher and a full-time starter, Latu is potentially poised to make another jump. If players like Allen, Haulcy, and Arden Key can help boost Indy's overall defensive efficiency, Latu should have a shot at double-digit sacks and Pro Bowl consideration.”
That kind of leap would fit the path Latu has already taken. As a rookie in 2024, he started just one of 17 games and finished with 4.0 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss. In 2025, once he became a full-time starter, he turned into the Colts’ most productive edge threat, leading the team with 8.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, and 12 tackles for loss.
Pro Football Focus graded Latu as the NFL’s 10th-best edge defender at 84.1. His pass-rushing grade came in at 77.0, which ranked 21st, and his 61 pressures placed 19th. But he also added a wrinkle that doesn’t usually show up in the usual edge-rusher box score: three interceptions in coverage.
The picks are a nice bonus. What Indianapolis really wants is a more complete, more forceful finish as a pass-rusher. The Colts clearly believe Latu is right on the edge of turning solid production into something bigger, maybe even the kind of season that puts him in double-digit sacks and Pro Bowl territory.
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