Edge rusher was one of the Colts’ biggest needs entering the NFL Draft, and with all of the top defenders still on the board at pick 15, they chose to address it right away by selecting UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.
Although the Colts set a franchise record in 2023 in sacks and ranked fifth in that category overall, they didn’t get after the quarterback all that often, ranking 23rd in total pressures. In order to sustain that level of sack production in 2024, statistically speaking, they’ll likely have to pressure the quarterback at a much higher rate for that to be repeatable.
On top of that, this is a defense under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley that rarely blitzes, so the defensive front’s ability to win its one-on-one matchups is a must.
The addition of Latu was a long-term move as well. As we look ahead to the 2025 offseason, Dayo Odeyingbo and Kwity Paye are both set to be free agents. The deadline for the Colts to pick up Paye’s fifth-year option for the 2025 season is quickly approaching.
With Latu now on the Colts’ roster, here is a player-by-player breakdown of the edge rusher position group: