UCLA Football: Daniel Jeremiah Pegs Laiatu Latu Landing With AFC Super Bowl Hopeful

Latu put on a show for UCLA this past season.

The 2023 UCLA Bruins didn't have much to smile about, finishing the year with a record of 7-5. However, even with the struggles, they still put together a strong year on the defensive side of the football.

UCLA is projected to have one of their players be drafted in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft. Edge rusher Laiatu Latu has been projected to land all over the first round, giving UCLA a top priority to watch over the next couple of months. 

Latu is one of the better defenders in the draft, and teams are already looking forward to seeing how he performs at the combine. In his latest NFL mock draft, analyst Daniel Jeremiah had Latu landing with the Miami Dolphins at pick 21.

"Latu would give the Dolphins three outstanding pass rushers with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips already in place. Keep in mind: Miami could lose Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency."

Per Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com

Latu was one of the better pass rushers in the country last season, helping the Bruins' defense become a strength of theirs. Putting him alongside Chubb and others would instantly bolster the Miami defense, and his talent could allow them to build out different schemes.

The Bruins senior played in 12 games this past season, racking up 49 tackles. 21.5 of them went for loss, and he recorded 13 sacks on the year. Latu also brought in two interceptions to add to his impressive 2023 season.

“I always think about what [Ravens general manager] Ozzie Newsome used to always say, ‘Let’s just hit doubles in the first round. Let’s not strike out,'” Jeremiah added.

Per Daniel Jeremiah via Pro Football Network

Latu would certainly be at least a double for the Dolphins. His skill set could help transform their defense, giving them an edge in the AFC.

Miami has all the offensive firepower to be successful, but their defense has held them back. Adding Latu could allow them to start building on that side of the ball, making them much more formidable in the conference.