Pro Football Focus believesIndianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu is on the verge of becoming a top pass rusher in the NFL.
In its "Reasons for optimism for all 32 NFL teams" article, PFF singled out "Laiatu Latu's leap" as the biggest reason for confidence in Indianapolis entering the 2026 season.
Latu made a noteworthy jump during his second year. As noted by PFF's Gordon McGuinness, Latu's overall grade climbed from 72.1 as a rookie to 84.1 in 2025, while his pressure rate improved from 10.1% to 14%. His run-defense grade also increased by nine points, and his pass-rush grade rose by 4.9 points.
His production followed the same course. Latu recorded 8.5 sacks last season after finishing with four as a rookie. He also intercepted three
passes while increasing his solo tackle total.
"If Latu takes another step forward in 2026, he could establish himself among the league's next tier of edge defenders just below the NFL's elite," PFF's Gordon McGuinness wrote.
That would be a key development for a Colts defense counting on Latu to grow into a mighty force up front, and the former No. 15 overall pick has been focused on doing exactly that this offseason. In June, Latu told Colts.com he gained more speed and burst while spending much of the offseason training.
After more than doubling his sack total from Year 1 to Year 2, Latu now enters his third NFL season with a shot to turn a favorable progression into a breakout campaign.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' Laiatu Latu tipped for another major leap in 2026
