Thursday’s run of first-rounders inking rookie deals will continue with Laiatu Latu. The Colts agreed to terms with their top pick, who is now signed through 2027.
The UCLA prospect — the first defender off the board in this year’s draft, at No. 15 — will see his contract fully guaranteed, as all first-rounders’ deals are, and the Colts can keep him on this deal through 2028 via the fifth-year option. For now, Latu will get to work building on his Los Angeles-based career resurgence.
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A neck injury at Washington forced a medical retirement from Latu, but he resurfaced with the Bruins in 2022. Last season’s Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year showing (13 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss) solidified Latu’s value as a first-rounder. With six QBs going off the board in the first 12 picks, other teams opted to fill wide receiver and tackle needs. The Raiders opted for a value pick in Brock Bowers. This left Latu on the board for the Colts, who jumped at the chance to grab a player they viewed as the draft’s top defender.
Latu began to display first-round-level form with a 10.5-sack 2022 season at the then-Chip Kelly-run program. He also intercepted two passes last season. The Colts had made offers to trade up in Round 1, and pre-draft reports suggested Indianapolis was targeting a skill-position player. Malik Nabers may well have been Indy’s target, but the Colts circled back to the WR position in Round 2 by taking Texas’ Adonai Mitchell. Latu will be plugged into a suddenly deep DE corps.
The Colts did not meet with Latu on a “30” visit, but they joined most teams in being comfortable with his medical outlook. The Falcons were interested enough in Latu they attempted to trade back into the middle of Round 1 — after eschewing their edge-rushing need to take Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 — to draft the Pac-12 star.
In Indianapolis, Latu joins former first-rounder Kwity Paye, ex-second-rounder Dayo Odeyingbo and 2023 free agency pickup Samsom Ebukam. This trio fared well for the Colts last season; each posted at least eight sacks — career-high totals across the board. That group, with a heavy assist from DeForest Buckner, accumulated 51 — good enough for fifth in the league. Latu joining this rush cadre certainly should provide more strength for Indy’s suddenly formidable pass rush.
Additionally, linebacker Jaylon Carlies and cornerback Jaylin Simpson signed fifth-round rookie deals, while cornerback Micah Abraham and defensive tackle Jonah Laulu agreed to terms on their seventh-round contracts Thursday night.