The Colts have reason to feel good about their draft class, but the bigger story might be what Laiatu Latu is already becoming.
Indianapolis got positive marks for picks like A.J. Haulcey and CJ Allen, along with later selections Caden Curry and Bryce Boettcher.
Add in the encouraging reports from OTAs and minicamps, and it points to a strong draft overall for general manager Chris Ballard. Some of those players may need time before they really show up on the field, but the early signs are pointing in the right direction.
Latu, though, is different. He already looks like a player who belongs in the conversation with the NFL’s best edge rushers, even though he’s only been in the league for two years. That kind of production this early is impressive on its own, but it also raises the ceiling for what the Colts could become if the roster keeps moving the right way.
The concern for Indianapolis is simple: if the team keeps missing the playoffs, players like Latu can get overlooked. That’s the kind of thing that happens when a standout is stuck on a middling team.
Tyler Warren, who broke out in his rookie year, could run into the same issue if the Colts don’t start winning more often. Trey McBride with the Arizona Cardinals is the kind of example that shows how a top player can still go under the radar when the team around him isn’t getting much attention.
That’s why ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler’s annual league survey matters here. Fowler polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, and Latu received votes on the top edge rusher list. He was not placed in the top five, where Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Aiden Hutchinson, and Will Anderson Jr. landed, but the fact that he drew votes is still a strong sign.
The bigger point is where Latu could be headed. He’s not on the level of those names yet, but the trajectory is obvious enough to make people think about what comes next. Give him another 3-5years, and he could absolutely be in that tier.
That’s where the Colts have to be careful. Myles Garrett spent nine seasons overwhelming offensive lines and piling up sacks, and he’s now viewed as the league’s best edge rusher. The problem for Cleveland was that Garrett’s brilliance never lined up with a truly serious team around him.
The Colts don’t want that story repeating itself with Latu. He may never reach Garrett’s level, but he looks elite in the making. What Indianapolis has to avoid is letting that kind of talent grow up in the wrong situation.
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