It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Rams’ greatest need coming into the 2024 NFL Draft is edge defender, and it’s possible that they are the perfect fit for what seems to be both an overlooked and potentially elite prospect. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu has both the pass rushing production and athleticism to round out a draft profile with shades of Chase Young and Joey Bosa.
Pro Football Focus (PFF)’s Sam Monson laid out the case for why Latu should be considered the best edge defender in this year’s draft. Monson compared teams’ contemplation of Latu—seen as a limited, potentially maxed-out prospect—versus other individuals with a higher athletic ceiling but less production at the college level, such as Dallas Turner and Jared Verse, to Travon Walker being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 over Aidan Hutchinson.