The Colts have a big fan of a pair of their new rookies—and this time, it came from the mainstream national NFL media.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates (subscription), the Indianapolis Colts had two of his best picks and/or steals among all of the selections in the recent 2024 NFL Draft:
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts (No. 15)
There was no debate for me throughout this process that Latu had the best tape of the defensive players in this class, and he was 12th in my rankings. Medical concerns were the only issue that had to be closely examined — he medically retired with neck issues in 2020 while at Washington before returning and transferring to UCLA — but Indianapolis clearly had the assurance it needed to make a justifiable investment in him. Latu has a refined pass-rush skill set, and he had 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons
.Tanor Bortolini, C/G, Indianapolis Colts (No. 117)
I had a third-round grade on Bortolini, especially after a really good combine performance that emphasized his ability to redirect — an essential trait for an interior offensive lineman. Bortolini has versatility, not just in regard to the position he can play (guard or center) but also the scheme. He held his own last season at Wisconsin as the team moved far away from its power-running game that had been a longtime hallmark of the program. Bortolini can help open lanes for running back Jonathan Taylor and buy quarterback Anthony Richardson time in the pocket.
As long as he can stay healthy, having been medically advised to retire two years ago, Laiatu Latu could prove to be one of the NFL Draft’s biggest steals this year—as it’s rare that any draft class’s top pass rusher falls to the middle of the first round. Latu features an arsenal of pass rushing moves and counters, with the ability to make an immediate impact. At the very least, Latu should be utilized as a rotational pass rusher and situational sackmaster on obvious passing downs and nickel subpackages—even as a rookie.
Meanwhile, Bortolini appears to be a ‘fan favorite’ of many draft analysts. There’s a lot to like here too given his elite athleticism, smarts, and classic Midwestern toughness that should fit right in with the rest of the Colts offensive line’s mantra and culture. Bortolini offers great interior versatility with solid fundamentals and footwork. It’s just a matter of getting stronger at the point of attack and refining some of his collective blocking technique. While he’s behind veteran center Ryan Kelly, he could make some spot starts for Indy in 2024, in the event of interior injuries. However, long-term he could be the Colts’ future at center.
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