The 2024 NFL Draft featured an unprecedented run on offensive players in the first round, and no one was more thrilled about that than Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard.
Despite having the 15th overall pick in the draft, the Colts were able to land the player that they believe is the best overall defensive prospect in the country. That is almost unheard of, which is why Ballard could not contain his excitement when he got to select UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu without trading up.
The Colts shared a video over the weekend that showed Ballard laughing in disbelief while declaring, “We got the best f—ing rusher in the draft.”
https://twitter.com/nerlens_/status/1784612929343553691
Most analysts agreed that Latu, Alabama’s Dallas Turner and Florida State’s Jared Verse were the best edge defenders in the draft in some order. In most other drafts, the top pass rushers have been long gone by the 15th overall pick, so Ballard feels the Colts struck gold.
There were 23 offensive players in total selected in the first round, which was an NFL Draft record. The 14 consecutive players taken to begin the event was also a record.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Latu had 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season. He had 23.5 sacks across two seasons at UCLA after transferring to the school from Washington. Colts fans are hoping Ballard’s animated reaction ends up being justified.
