LL #97

Laiatu Latu

Defensive End · UCLA

A medical retirement couldn't stop Laiatu Latu from becoming the first defensive player off the board in the 2024 draft, and now he's one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the league.

Laiatu Latu's path to the NFL ran through a career-threatening neck injury that forced him out of football entirely before he ever suited up for UCLA. Cleared to return after two years away, he rebuilt himself into a consensus All-American and the Colts made him the 15th overall pick in 2024. Three seasons in, he's delivering on that investment as Indianapolis' top pass rusher.

★ First defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft (No. 15 overall)

★ Consensus All-American at UCLA in 2023

★ Career-high 8.5 sacks in 2025

★ One of three defensive ends in the Super Bowl era with 6+ sacks and 3 INTs in a season

Path to the league

Latu began his college career at Washington but medically retired after a 2020 neck injury threatened to end his playing days for good. After two years away from the game, he was cleared to return and transferred to UCLA, where he rebuilt his career from scratch. The Colts made him the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, taking him 15th overall.

Career highlights

At UCLA, Latu posted 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2022, then followed it up with 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2023, a season that earned him consensus All-American honors. Colts general manager Chris Ballard called him the best defensive player in the entire 2024 draft class, and Latu has backed that up early in his pro career as Indianapolis' primary edge threat.

2025 season recap

Latu broke out in 2025, recording a career-high 8.5 sacks to go with 45 tackles, five pass breakups and three interceptions across 16 games. His combination of pass-rush production and coverage instincts made him just the third defensive end in the Super Bowl era to log 6-plus sacks and 3 interceptions in the same season.