UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Lands With NFC Squad in Top-10 of First Round in Fresh Mock

Matt Levine | Apr 14, 2024

The UCLA Bruins defense last season was one of the best in the entire country. They made massive strides everywhere, with much of the credit going to former defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. Lynn came into town and changed the entire dynamic on the defensive side of the ball.

Within that strong defense, they were led by star pass rusher Laiatu Latu. Latu showed strong ability to get to the quarterback, putting up 13 sacks across the 12 games he played in. His speed along the line was impressive and has him looking likely to be taken somewhere in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

Some mock drafts have him projected to be taken within the top-10 of the first round, while others have him sitting toward the back end. But one thing is for sure, Latu can flat-out play the position of pass rusher.

In a recent mock draft done by Sportsnaut, Latu heads to the Chicago Bears with their second top-10 draft pick in the first round.

"Adding Montez Sweat at last season’s trade deadline was the start of building an effective pass rush, but the Bears need to finish the job now with Laiatu Latu. This is a player who can do it all, whether it’s overpowering defenders with what’s been described as “Mensa-level” hand usage that allows him to wreak havoc in the backfield or even drop back into coverage to keep quarterbacks guessing on his next move. Latu’s stock may be impacted by past neck issues, but he’s racked up 23.5 sacks since those injury concerns arose; he can clearly play."

If Latu were to head to the Bears, he would create a nice duo alongside Montez Sweat. Having both players be able to get into the backfield with ease would allow Chicago to create a strong defensive front. This would take pressure off the secondary as well, making life easier for everyone.

Latu suffered an injury early in his college career and there was once a thought that he would never play again. But he has pushed through to live out his dream, giving him a chip on his shoulder that he carries with him at all times.