The Colts declined a trade offer before drafting Laiatu Latu in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Laiatu Latu with the 15th pick in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft. And now we know just how much they wanted him via them declining a trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams to stay put at pick 15 and take Latu. On Friday, the Roku Channell released the […]
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Laiatu Latu with the 15th pick in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
And now we know just how much they wanted him via them declining a trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams to stay put at pick 15 and take Latu.
On Friday, the Roku Channell released the first episode of season two of their show "NFL Draft: The Pick Is In." This season, the show is following the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and the Rams. In the episode, the Rams tried to trade up as early as pick ten and each pick after until the Colts were on the clock at 15.
The Rams offered the Colts picks 19, 99 (Third round pick), and 154 (5th round pick) for picks 15 and 191 (Sixth round pick). They had their eyes on Texas DT Byron Murphy II if the Colts would have accepted. Instead, the Colts declined and stayed put at 15 to draft Latu. They would have picked up an additional top-100 pick to just move back four spots, but it didn't look like the Colts had any interest in moving out of their pick.
Latu was clearly the Colts' highest-graded defensive player in the draft due to him being the first defensive player drafted in the entire 2024 draft class. So, the Colts declining that trade offer isn't all that surprising. But it's not often you get this much clear evidence of how much a team liked an individual player. I think I speak for everyone when I say I can't wait to see Latu take the field as a Colt this season and see what type of impact he has on their pass rush room as well as their defense as a whole.