UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Looking to Replace NFL Legend in Latest Mock Draft
Latu would get to stay in LA under this scenario...
Laiatu Latu is one of the premier pass rushers in this upcoming NFL Draft.
The Northern California native starred at UCLA over the last two years. He terrified Pac-12 tackles with an uncanny ability to get after opposing quarterbacks. Latu's combination of length, toughness, first-step quickness, and elite bend enabled him to develop into an All-American.
Acquiring elite pass-rushing talent is a goal every franchise has. Considering how the NFL has morphed into a pass-happy league, being able to apply pressure off the edges is imperative. Without some sort of pass-rushing threat, your team will be languishing in the mediocre-to-bad range.
The next question is, where will Latu end up? Pro Football Network predicts that Latu will be drafted No. 19 Overall by the Los Angeles Rams. This is what the site had to say about the former UCLA star:
"Aaron Donald’s retirement leaves the Los Angeles Rams with a significant hole to fill on the defensive front. You don’t simply plug the gap with a like-for-like player because we all know that player doesn’t exist. They do need a pass-rush presence from somewhere, and UCLA Bruins menace Laiatu Latu might be the very best at getting after the quarterback in this class."
The Rams have to be viewed as a Super Bowl contender looking ahead to next season. The core of the team has been rebuilt over the last few years, and it remains relatively young all things considered.
With Aaron Donald leaving, the front four could use a real boost in the realm of pass-rushing. This is especially the case when playing in a conference featuring Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love, Jared Goff and -- potentially -- Caleb Williams.
The Rams saw plenty of Latu over the last couple of years. With UCLA being a stone's throw from the team's stadium in Inglewood, the fit does appear to be a natural one.
Latu is physically gifted to the point where he should come in and impact on the pro level from the start. He might be gone by the time LA picks at No. 19. As such, don't be shocked if the Rams leap up to take him.
