Big Board ranking: #5

Positional ranking: #1

 

Overview

Position: EDGE

College: UCLA

Class: Senior

Age: 23

 

Measurables

Height: 6’4 3/4”

Weight: 259 lbs.

Arm length: 32 5/8″

Hand size: 9 5/8″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.64 sec.

10-yard split: 1.62 sec.

Vertical jump: 32.0″

Broad jump: 116.0″

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Non-stop motor. Ferocious overall pursuit. Hands and feet are very active. Very good first-step quickness and closing burst. Plays with terrific balance. Extremely polished as a pass rusher. Can use an assortment of moves and methods to get the quarterback. Great swim move. Impressive dip as a pass rusher. Very quick inside move. Outstanding hop-and-swipe move on speed rushes. Possesses a tight spin move in the toolbox. Has no problem flattening to the quarterback and crashing the pocket. Forceful hitter. Tremendous play recognition and instincts. Very quick to shed blocks. Uses his hands to keep blockers off playing the run. Relentless working through blocks. Very quick slipping through blockers. Holds his ground and will move his feet to set an edge. Will dart inside to make a tackle. Has the strength to walk back tight ends. Diagnoses perimeter runs. Tracks as a backside defender. Plenty of experience shaded inside. Used as a stand-up rusher and with his hand in the dirt over the center. Strength and tenacity shown with effectiveness on the interior (including on early downs). Has experience dropping in coverage. Always hustles away from the ball. Played great versus top opponents.

 

Weaknesses

Can be more under control after winning inside with a clear path to the quarterback. Might get moved off the spot versus powerful opponents. Almost always keeps his feet but can get bumped around a bit. Will guess playing the run and allow a hole to open when shaded inside. Forced to medically retire in 2021 due to a neck injury.

 

NFL comparison

T.J. Watt

 

Conclusion

Overall, Latu is a polished, productive defender with a relentless motor and an assortment of pass-rush moves on the edge. Assuming everything checks out medically, he should be an early first-round pick with high-end skills and tenacity.