A Latu like about the Colts' top draft choice, but the neck issues give me some pause

UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu has the goods to be an elite pass rusher, but after missing two seasons due to neck injuries, he's a bit of a medical risk.

The talent is undeniable. Read up on UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, and observers who watch tape for a living will agree that the 23-year old is the best defensive player in the NFL Draft. In two years at UCLA, he had 22 ½ sacks, was a unanimous All American and won the Lombardi Award. His pass rush skills pop on tape, and in a division where the Colts are now chasing C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, a devastating pass rusher is a smart move.

But…

In 2020 and 2021, while at the University of Washington, he injured his neck and needed serious cervical spine surgery that removed a disk, which led doctors to determine he needed to retire from the game of football. Two years later, Latu returned to the field at UCLA and ravaged offensive tackles the last two seasons, staying healthy and producing at a high level.

So here’s the deal, or at least my deal, when appraising Chris Ballard’s decision to tab Latu with the 15^th pick in the first round Thursday night:

It’s a risk.

It’s a medical risk, a massive one.

Can he stay healthy?