Ryan Talbot reported on Monday that the Buffalo Bills were hosting edge rusher Laiatu Latu on a top-30 pre-draft visit. Latu, a top pass-rush prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, might be a candidate for the Bills’ pick at 28 in Round 1.
Latu’s visit coincided with the first day of the Bills’ Phase 1 offseason workout program, which may mean he was able to interact with several of the team’s players and more.
So what does Latu bring to the table that might excite One Bills Drive and Bills Mafia? Production, and plenty of it. The 6’4”, 265-pound defensive end exploded off the charts after transferring from Washington to UCLA ahead of his junior season. In two seasons with the Bruins, Latu made 51 tackles (34 solo), 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass defenses, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
So what does Latu bring to the table that might excite One Bills Drive and Bills Mafia? Production, and plenty of it. The 6’4”, 265-pound defensive end exploded off the charts after transferring from Washington to UCLA ahead of his junior season. In two seasons with the Bruins, Latu made 51 tackles (34 solo), 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass defenses, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
The hype around Latu carries significant weight when considering his continued maturation and jumps in production as an outside edge on the defensive line. Backing up his talent and the promise analysts, experts, and peers see in Latu is the the impressive list of year-end accolades, which consists of:
Two-time First-Team All-Pac-12 (2022, 2023)
Lombardi Award (2023)
Unanimous All-American (2023)
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
Ted Hendricks Award (2023)
Morris Trophy (2023)
Polynesian Football Player of the Year (college) (2023)
Given that almost all the talk surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ potential decision(s) in Round 1 centers around wide receivers, the team hosting Latu may raise some eyebrows — and for various reasons. The most obvious being that he’s not a receiver, but also potentially when considering his injury history.Latu started his college journey with the Washington Huskies, but faced a severe neck injury before his second year, leading team doctors to advise against him continuing to play tackle football. Officially retired for the 2021 season, he later entered the transfer process, persisting in his football aspirations. Despite the gravity of his neck injury, Latu’s return to the field at UCLA and his impressive performance in 25 games reflect a remarkable recovery.
While subtracting their top two wide receivers from the previous four seasons, it’s worth noting that general manager Brandon Beane and One Bills Drive have been known to select the top football player on their board, regardless of perceived need.
The current regime also seems to place a great deal of importance on the defensive line, especially defensive ends/edge rushers. That puts Latu squarely in the discussion to land with the Bills later this month, should things play out accordingly.
We’ll have more to share on Laiatu Latu’s potential fit with the Buffalo Bills, including in-depth analysis of him as a player.
