The UCLA Bruins defense was one of the best in the country last season and earned great praise from opponents throughout the year. The Bruins are led by star pass rusher Laiatu Latu, who has 13 sacks in just 12 games.
Latu gave his all for the Bruins this season and garnered a lot of attention on the national level. He is expected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft after making his mark in college. Latu has been derided as a draft pick ranging from the top 10 to the last of the first round.
A new mock draft by Underdog has manager Hayden Winks selecting Latu with the 25th pick to the Denver Broncos. In this mock draft, Denver traded back for additional draft capital and selected Latu to help strengthen their defense.
“After trading down to acquire more picks for a potential QB, the Broncos still managed to acquire a high-upside pass rusher. In fact, Latu was one of the most productive college players last year. There was no “retirement” (neck) of illness, so in 2021, Latu has a good chance, if not more, of being selected in the top 12. At this point, it's unclear where Latu will end up on draft night. ”
The Broncos have a long history of having elite pass rushers on their roster, making this a good landing spot for Latu. His ability to get off the line with ease should fit right in with what head coach Sean Payton likes to do on defense.
Denver needs another player who can play quarterback or disrupt the offense in the backfield, and Latu would be the perfect fit. He's ready to show he can replicate his college performance at the next level, so if Denver accepts him, he'll do well.
