Falcons select UCLA edge Laiatu Latu in latest NFL mock draft
The Atlanta Falcons have a handful of needs ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft but quarterback is their priority. However, the latest rumors are saying that Atlanta is expected to address their quarterback need in NFL free agency by going after Kirk Cousins or trading for Justin Fields. That means they might not necessarily need […]
The Atlanta Falcons have a handful of needs ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft but quarterback is their priority.
However, the latest rumors are saying that Atlanta is expected to address their quarterback need in NFL free agency by going after Kirk Cousins or trading for Justin Fields.
That means they might not necessarily need their No. 8 overall pick in this year's draft and could trade back for more draft capital instead, which is what A to Z Sports' Destin Adams has them doing in his post-NFL Combine mock draft.
Adams has the Falcons trading back with the Seattle Seahawks to No. 16 overall where they select UCLA edge Laiatu Latu:
"After moving back and picking up extra draft capital, the Falcons still land one of the draft's best edge rusher prospects in UCLA Laiatu Latu. Latu showed how dominant of a pass rusher he could be against just about any offensive lineman assigned to him at the Senior Bowl, and the Falcons could use that type of production."
Seattle also gives the Falcons pick No. 78 in the third round of this year's draft, a 2025 second-rounder, and a 2026 third-rounder.
Falcons Were Latu's First Meeting at NFL Combine
Latu had a strong showing at the 2024 NFL Combine where he ran a strong 4.64 40-yard dash.
He told reporters that the Falcons were his first meeting at the event ahead of on-field drills and that they reviewed and critiqued his film, per Atlanta beat writer Aman Subhan.
The UCLA product logged 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles for the Bruins in 2023.
He led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth in sacks per game (1.08). Additionally, his 21.5 tackles for loss were the most by any player in the nation in 2023.
He received the Lombardi Award, which is given to college football's best defensive lineman, and was named the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.
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