Why Colts believe Laiatu Latu is best defensive player in NFL draft

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The Indianapolis Colts made edge rusher at No. 15 overall in the 2024 NFL draft with the belief he was the best defensive player in the cla s.Latu joins the Colts as a very polished pa s rusher and one who will likely have a role right away as a sub-package edge rusher to begin Brad Hand Jersey  his career.General manager Chris Ballard told reporters following the draft Thursday night that they feel they got the best defensive player in the draft."Excited about we got (Laiatu) Latu. Hes a really great kid," Ballard said. "I know the medical is going to be a  B.J. Upton Jersey question. Like our doctors said, he played two full years with it and had 22.5 sacks. We think we got the best defensive player in the draft. I thought we got a little lucky. There were really four or five really elite players, and he was one of them so we feel fortunate to get him.MORE: The questions Greg Allen Jersey  about the medicals are really the only major red flag. Latu in 2020 after suffering a neck injury during practice when he was at Washington. He mi sed two seasons but was medically cleared in 2021.After that, he transferred to UCLA and became a dominant force on the edge. In 25 games (12 starts), Latu racked up 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for lo s and 127 total pre sures during his final two seasons at UCLA.GRADE: Ballard also detailed why the Colts Corey Kluber Jersey  think he's the best defender in this cla s."Hes a natural rusher. Hes a three-way rusher where he has got a great long arm down the middle and hes got a great feel of when to counter inside and he can win on the edge. Hes kind of got all of it. Hes a really talented guy," Ballard said. "I think our front  I think our defensive front is the best since weve been here. Its excellent. Its excellent and really excited about Manny Ramirez Jersey  it.Injury questions aside, the Latu selection has a lot of upside. The Colts needed to add a natural edge rusher who could win with speed and bend from the edge.Other positions may have been more of pre sing needs, but Ballard wasn't going to pa s on a prospect they viewed as elite.For, check out Kevin Hickey's work on.