In each of the last two NFL seasons, we’ve seen rookies from the same team take home the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards. In 2022, it was Sauce Gardner and Garrett Mitchell of the Jets, and in 2023, it was CJ Stroud and Will Anderson of the Texans.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, which teams are most likely to repeat that feat? Pro Football Network put that list together and near the top were the Colts, who feature Laiatu Latu on the defensive side of the ball and Adonai Mitchell on offense.
Pro Football Network (PFN) picked the top-14 rookie duos who they view as the most likely to take home both these awards this season. Coming in at No. 4 on the list was the Colts.
Latu comes to the NFL as one the most disruptive pass rushers in football for his final two college seasons, posting 60-plus pressures and double-digit sacks each year.
After the draft, GM Chris Ballard acknowledged that like most rookies, there will be a learning curve for Latu, but added that Latu’s intelligence and “polished” pass rush repertoire will help him make a quick impact.
Also contributing to Latu’s potential early success will be the deep defensive line rotation that the Colts have. This will allow defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to really play matchups, putting Latu in positions to succeed, along the depth of this unit helping to create one-on-one opportunities for Latu to take advantage of.
“I would say he’s real slippery,” Kwity Paye said. “He gets on and off blocks real easy, can bend the corner, turn the edge, and just really manipulating the O-line. You know, just his counters and his spins, everything like that, just watching his film, it’s crazy.”
Mitchell will be competing with Alec Pierce for those staring reps on the boundary opposite of Michael Pittman, but with the speed and explosiveness Mitchell brings to the offense, one assumes that he will be making an impact sooner than later.
With 4.34 speed, Mitchell can bring another downfield element to the offense, which not only creates big play opportunities for himself, but that creates opportunities for other pass catchers over the middle and on underneath routes.
However, Mitchell is much more than just a vertical presence. His explosiveness as a route runner allows him to make an impact at all levels of the field.
“You bring in AD and he’s very talented,” said Michael Pittman. “Everything he does is so natural. I think he brings something extra that we didn’t have before. I’m learning stuff from him that I didn’t know before.
“Just the way he moves and the way he sets up moves. I think he’s elevating everybody. He’s all about football. We are always talking about concepts, routes, releases, set up moves. He’s all ball 24/7.”
Both Latu and Mitchell will have the chance to come in and play key roles on their respective sides of the football for this Colts team, and with that, is the potential to make a quick and powerful impact.
