ESPN’s Matt Miller listed 2024 prospects with first-round grades and closest comparisons in a column published on Monday, and he compared top pass-rushing prospect Laiatu Latu to Patriots four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Matthew Judon.
Latu had a strong season for UCLA in 2023, tallying 49 tackles and 13 sacks on the year. He also forced two fumbles and recorded two interceptions. His incredible production proved last year was not an outlier, when he recorded 10.5 sacks.
When breaking down Latu’s skill set, Miller chose Judon as the best comparison for the soon-to-be NFL rookie. He wrote:
Latu does not boast the all-around burst and agility of Turner, but he’s head and shoulders above every pass-rusher in the 2024 draft class when it comes to technique. Latu (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) understands leverage and hand usage, and he brings a nasty speed-to-power conversion to the game. Latu medically retired from football in 2020 before transferring from Washington to UCLA before the 2022 season. If his medicals come back with good news, he has top-10 potential after 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons. I see Sunday-ready pass-rush tools.
Latu’s pass-rushing ability certainly bodes well for his future in the NFL. New England probably will not land him, as the organization has more pressing needs at several other positions.
But whoever ends up with him will be getting a premier edge rusher in a league that is trending more towards high-powered offenses.
