Laiatu Latu — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

I wouldn't rule out a quarterback with this pick. The Rams could follow the Packers' Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love blueprint and begin developing a passer behind Matthew Stafford. If they don't go that route, continuing to add pass rushers would be a smart move.

The Vikings season was derailed mainly due to injuries. Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in Week 8 and was lost for the season. Justin Jefferson was out for 7 games from Week 6 thru Week 12. Linebacker Jordan Hicks, defensive End DJ Wonnum and cornerback Byron Murphy all missed time. Defensive end Marcus Davenport only appeared in three games. The team still managed to keep playoff hopes alive up until the final couple of games of the season.

This offseason will be crucial for General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter are free agents and both should command a Top-10 salary at their positions. After seeing the backup quarterbacks play the last half of the season and the other backups play around the league, Kwesi could decide to extend Kirk Cousins.

In this mock, the assumption is that he brings back Danielle Hunter as well. But the Vikings will still need more pass rush help, and the Edge Rusher position is strong in the first round of this draft. Laiatu Latu is one of the best, if not the best, Edge Rusher in this draft. He was named a unanimous All-American, won the Ted Hendricks Award, the Lombardi Award, the Pat Tillman Award, and the Morris Trophy. Latu finished the season with 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss which led the NCAA.

Chicago may opt for a skill player like Rome Odunze to compliment D.J. Moore, but it is easier to find a talented pass-catcher on Day 2 than it would be to land a game-changing pass rusher like Laiatu Latu.

The Bears get aggressive with Ryan Poles entering Year 3 as Chicago's GM, ascending to get the consensus top outside pass rusher in the class to pair with Montez Sweat.

Laiatu Latu would fill a big hole at edge rusher should Danielle Hunter and/or Marcus Davenport exit in free agency.

Over his two seasons at UCLA, Latu accounted for 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He has first-step quickness and bend, but his crafty handwork and ability to diversify his attack separate him as a pass rusher. His injury history could be an issue, but this Vikings regime has taken chances with those risks in the past.

My EDGE1 in the class, Laiatu Latu won't blow you away with his athletic profile or 40 time, but his hands, strength, and unbelievably deep pass-rush repertoire is beyond his years. I expect him to dominate one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl and boost his stock into the top 10.

The San Francisco 49ers luck into a ridiculous pass rusher with Laiatu Latu here. The nation's leader in sacks the past two seasons comes a bit north to San Francisco, bringing with him every possible pass-rush move you can as an elite rusher.

Latu can play in space incredibly well but is at his best when he gets to pin his ears back. He can also get after the passer from various alignments, standing up or with his hand in the dirt. The 49ers can deploy their new elite pass-rushing weapon in a bevy of ways.

The Broncos need a bonafide threat on the outside to pair with Zach Allen, who normally wreaks havoc on the interior. Latu features a pro-ready arsenal of pass-rush moves and became the first Bruin to win the Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman) and Hendricks Award (best defensive end) this season. Medical evaluations of a neck injury the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year suffered during his time with Washington will have a big impact on his draft stock.

Boye Mafe was a revelation for the Seattle Seahawks, recording seven sacks in the first eight games. But over the final nine games, he totaled just two more sacks. The Seahawks need to add more pass rush help, and Laiatu Latu is one of the top rushers in the class.

Latu is one of the best stories of this draft, going from being medically retired to posting back-to-back double digit sack seasons. His pass rush tool box is deep, showing off a variety of moves and refined hands to create a pathway to the quarterback.

Let's assume the Vikings reward Kirk Cousins' very good 2023 with another fully guaranteed contract — something like three years and $110 million. That doesn't fully answer the questions facing their offense, but it locks in an above average quarterback who can thrive in the Twin Cities. It also creates room to focus on the other side of the ball at the draft.

Brian Flores made an undermanned defense fearsome thanks to a truly absurd amount of blitzes. Minnesota brought extra pass rushers 320 times this season, 52 more than the next-closest team. Adding Latu would bring the pocket-shrinking pressure that provided while allowing those blitzers to clog up passing lanes in the secondary. He was a monster in 2023, leading the Pac-12 with 13 sacks one year after notching 10.5 as a junior with the Bruins.

It's no secret the Falcons need a quarterback. But Arthur Smith has been relieved of his coaching duties, and with pressure to win next season, I think Atlanta could go the veteran route under center. With that in mind, adding another pass-rusher makes sense, as the Falcons owned the worst pass rush win rate (30.9%) in the league. Latu has an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves and has improved as a run defender. He was second in the FBS in pressure rate (20.1%) this season and recorded 23.5 sacks since joining UCLA in 2022.

Medical issues are the biggest question mark here. Latu was forced to sit out two seasons because of a 2020 neck injury while still at Washington. But with a clean bill of health, he would be a no-brainer top-10 pick.

A QB is in play here, but let's see what happens with Kirk Cousins and other potential targets of Kevin O'Connell. Would they consider a Justin Jefferson trade to move up and get a QB? Latu led the country in tackles for loss (21.5).