Could Latu be the pass rusher the Bills have so desperately sought?
The Buffalo Bills have met with UCLA defensive end prospect Laiatu Latu on a Top-30 visit. All of the focus has been put on the wide receiver position this offseason, but they do have other needs — and defensive end is one of them.
Besides a receiver in the first round, I think a defensive lineman (DT or DE) is the most likely option. Latu is someone to keep your eye on for the Bills' first-round pick, so let’s see what he’d bring to the table.
College Career
2019: Played at Washington; six tackles and 1.5 TFL
2020: Did not play due to a neck injury
2021: Did not play due to a neck injury and retired from the game of football
2022: Transferred to UCLA; First-Team All-Pac-12 Conference; was eighth in the FBS with 10.5 sacks; recorded 36 tackles including a team-high 12.5 TFL and three forced fumbles
2023: First-Team AP All-American, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Won the Lombardi Award (nation's top OL/DL), and the Ted Hendricks Award (nation's top DE), Finalist for Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Lott IMPACT Award (integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity); fourth in the FBS with 13.0 sacks; 49 tackles and 21.5 TFL; also added two INTs and two forced fumbles
The Washington doctors didn’t clear Latu to play in 2021 and questioned if he would ever play football again. After two years away from the game (2020 & 2021) he transferred to UCLA and their doctors cleared him to play.
2024 NFL Scouting Combine
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 259 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.62 seconds
- Vertical jump: 32”
- Broad jump: 9’8”
Laiatu Latu is a DE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.33 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 117 out of 1738 DE from 1987 to 2024.https://t.co/QeWNipTgN1 pic.twitter.com/Cfv65OxUgt
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2024
Latu’s pass-rushing skills are impressive due to his elite quickness and ability to bend around the corner. His testing numbers provide further evidence that he can get to the quarterback in a flash. Latu’s explosive metrics (vertical and broad jump) are average but his short-area quickness drills (10-yard split, shuttle, 3-cone) are fantastic.
Highlights
UCLA OLB Laiatu Latu
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) March 20, 2024
Savvy, refined. Multiple counters, rush paths. Interior alignments/win 1-on-1s. Stack/shed to produce vs. the run. Pro ready technique. pic.twitter.com/JPBi0CltUk
In the above play, the quarterback had just made it to the back of his drop and Latu was already wrapping him up for a sack. Notice how Latu perfectly timed his chop and then used his outside arm to push the OT further inside so he could turn the corner.
Laiatu Latu (#15) would not be denied! What a great rep through chip help. pic.twitter.com/C2FWDyUAt7
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 3, 2024
Here, Latu used a push-pull move to get past the offensive tackle, and then ran through the running back like he wasn’t even there — a great example of Latu’s motor and finishing ability.
The way it's tracking, with a likely early run on QB, WR, & OT, one of most skilled rushers in recent years could fall to Raiders (13), Saints (14), or Rams (19).
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 16, 2024
Checkout Matrix-like reactions. #Raiders HC Antonio Pierce just happened to be at UCLA's pro-day yesterday.… pic.twitter.com/kWHihwIO0b
Do yourself a favor and click on the above tweet by Jim Nagy and follow along with his thread on Latu. He shows five fantastic clips of what Latu can bring to the table for an NFL team.
Pros
- Has a mature game that will make his transition to the NFL smooth
- Has a treasure chest full of advanced pass-rush moves that he can get to from a variety of positions and angles
- Already has developed countermoves
- Shows a consistent motor and can hold his own in the run game
- Hand placement is impeccable
Cons
- The neck injury is concerning, but NFL teams will have their chance to evaluate it
- Sometimes gets too high and loses the leverage battle
- His frame and build are adequate but not great, which can result in him losing ground in the run game versus a bigger offensive lineman
How Laiatu Latu fits with the Buffalo Bills
Laiatu Latu would instantly be a key member of the Bills’ defensive end rotation. He may not earn “starter” status, but that’s mainly just a title when it comes to their typical rotation. Latu would get a snap share similar to the rest of the defensive ends, which would be Greg Rousseau, Von Miller, and A.J. Epenesa.
The Bills need more pass-rushing help and Latu would likely fill the role that Leonard Floyd had last year. Latu’s game will translate nicely to the NFL and the sky’s the limit if the neck injury is truly a thing of the past. Getting Latu would be great value for the Bills at pick 28 should he fall that far.