Buffalo Bills 2024 NFL Draft top-30 visit: Analysis of DE Laiatu Latu

Could Latu be the pass rusher the Bills have so desperately sought?

The Buffalo Bills have met with UCLA defensive end prospect Laiatu Latu on a Top-30 visit. All of the focus has been put on the wide receiver position this offseason, but they do have other needs — and defensive end is one of them.

Besides a receiver in the first round, I think a defensive lineman (DT or DE) is the most likely option. Latu is someone to keep your eye on for the Bills’ first-round pick, so let’s see what he’d bring to the table.

College Career

2019: Played at Washington; six tackles and 1.5 TFL

2020: Did not play due to a neck injury

2021: Did not play due to a neck injury and retired from the game of football

2022: Transferred to UCLA; First-Team All-Pac-12 Conference; was eighth in the FBS with 10.5 sacks; recorded 36 tackles including a team-high 12.5 TFL and three forced fumbles

2023: First-Team AP All-American, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Won the Lombardi Award (nation’s top OL/DL), and the Ted Hendricks Award (nation’s top DE), Finalist for Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Lott IMPACT Award (integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity); fourth in the FBS with 13.0 sacks; 49 tackles and 21.5 TFL; also added two INTs and two forced fumbles

The Washington doctors didn’t clear Latu to play in 2021 and questioned if he would ever play football again. After two years away from the game (2020 & 2021) he transferred to UCLA and their doctors cleared him to play.

2024 NFL Scouting Combine

• Height: 6’5”
• Weight: 259 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.62 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32”
• Broad jump: 9’8”

Latu’s pass-rushing skills are impressive due to his elite quickness and ability to bend around the corner. His testing numbers provide further evidence that he can get to the quarterback in a flash. Latu’s explosive metrics (vertical and broad jump) are average but his short-area quickness drills (10-yard split, shuttle, 3-cone) are fantastic.

Highlights

In the above play, the quarterback had just made it to the back of his drop and Latu was already wrapping him up for a sack. Notice how Latu perfectly timed his chop and then used his outside arm to push the OT further inside so he could turn the corner.

Here, Latu used a push-pull move to get past the offensive tackle, and then ran through the running back like he wasn’t even there — a great example of Latu’s motor and finishing ability.

Do yourself a favor and click on the above tweet by Jim Nagy and follow along with his thread on Latu. He shows five fantastic clips of what Latu can bring to the table for an NFL team.

Pros

• Has a mature game that will make his transition to the NFL smooth
• Has a treasure chest full of advanced pass-rush moves that he can get to from a variety of positions and angles
• Already has developed countermoves
• Shows a consistent motor and can hold his own in the run game
• Hand placement is impeccable

Cons

• The neck injury is concerning, but NFL teams will have their chance to evaluate it
• Sometimes gets too high and loses the leverage battle
• His frame and build are adequate but not great, which can result in him losing ground in the run game versus a bigger offensive lineman

How Laiatu Latu fits with the Buffalo Bills

Laiatu Latu would instantly be a key member of the Bills’ defensive end rotation. He may not earn “starter” status, but that’s mainly just a title when it comes to their typical rotation. Latu would get a snap share similar to the rest of the defensive ends, which would be Greg Rousseau, Von Miller, and A.J. Epenesa.

The Bills need more pass-rushing help and Latu would likely fill the role that Leonard Floyd had last year. Latu’s game will translate nicely to the NFL and the sky’s the limit if the neck injury is truly a thing of the past. Getting Latu would be great value for the Bills at pick 28 should he fall that far.