The Colts didn’t feel the need to get cute in a 2024 NFL Draft re-do. When Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports reworked the board, Indianapolis stayed put at No. 15 and took Laiatu Latu again.
That makes sense given how the first two years have gone. The Colts have spent years trying to solve their edge-rush problem, and Latu has already given them more than a lot of those swings have produced.
He entered the league as the first defensive player selected in a draft loaded with offense, and that kind of billing always brings heat. Through two seasons, he has answered with production - 12.5 sacks overall - even if the Colts still want more.
Pereles explained why Latu remained the choice in the redo: "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’s rookie year in 2024 was more of a rotation role. He worked behind veterans Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis, started only 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, the arrow pointed up fast. He led the Colts with 8.5 sacks, added 20 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss, and turned in a season that showed why Indianapolis believed in him at No.
After the 2025 season, Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear the team liked where Latu is headed. "I like where Latu is at.
I did think Latu played really good football," Ballard said. "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."
The advanced numbers back up the growth. Pro Football Focus ranked Latu as the NFL’s 10th-best edge defender with an 84.1 grade. His pass-rushing grade came in at 77.0, 61 pressures placed him 19th, and the three interceptions gave him a rare extra layer of value in coverage.
The sacks still matter most, though. That’s the bar for an edge rusher, and it’s why Latu’s next step is so important. He’s gone from 4.0 to 8.5, and the Colts will be looking for him to push past 10.0 in 2026.
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