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With the Giants holding seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including the sixth overall selection, let’s take a look at one prospect who may be a target: UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu…
By The Numbers
– Height: 6-foot-5
– Weight: 259 pounds
– 40-Yard Dash: 4.64
– Vertical: 32 inches
– Bench: DNP
– Broad Jump: 9-foot-8
– 2023 Stats (12 games played): 49 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups.
Prospect Overview
Bleacher Report: There aren’t many draft prospects who have Laiatu Latu’s combination of size, athleticism and quickness. That helps him as a pass-rusher, as he can win with both finesse and power moves, giving him one of the best and most complete arsenals in this year’s class.
NFL.com: Latu possesses the kind of rare maturity to his game that you usually see from NFL veterans. He rarely stays blocked by tackles as a run defender and dominates blocking tight ends on the collegiate level. His pass-rush approach is both well conceived and instinctive, and he’s brilliant at taking possession of the rep using clever hands and slippery angles to pry open opportunities. His eyes play beyond blockers, and he feeds off of a voracious motor that keeps him pushing forward as a run defender and pass rusher. Concerns surrounding his neck injury (while at Washington) will certainly come into play when he gets to medical exams, but his durability and play at UCLA are certainly promising. Everything about Latu’s skill set and production is translatable to the NFL, and he could become a Pro Bowler as a 3-4 outside linebacker with a heavy influence on the game.
Why Latu makes sense for the Giants
Kayvon Thibodeaux had a breakout season with 11.5 sacks in 2023, but he only had one sack in the last six games and wasn’t as consistent as the team would have liked. In addition, the team’s other edge rushers provided almost no production for most of the year. Jihad Ward finished strong, with all five of his sacks coming in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/laiatu-latu-2024-nfl-draft-150004264.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-03-04 15:00:04
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