A day after the best defensive tackle prospect was in town, the Vikings are hosting one of the draft’s top outside linebackers for a Top 30 visit.
UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is reportedly taking a Top 30 visit with the Vikings on Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
#UCLA edge Laiatu Latu, one of the draft's best pass rushers, is on a Top 30 visit to the #Vikings today, source said. He was with the #Bears yesterday and already met with the #Broncos, plus he has #AZCardinals tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2024
Latu was tied for fourth in the nation in 2023 with 13 sacks for the UCLA Bruins. He finished his college career with 24 sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Pro Football Focus gave Latu a 94.3 pass-rushing grade in 2023, the highest in the nation among edge rushers. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound pass rusher ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine back in February.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein says Latu “possesses the kind of rare maturity to his game that you usually see from NFL veterans” in his scouting profile of the linebacker.
“Everything about Latu’s skill set and production is translatable to the NFL, and he could become a Pro Bowler as a 3-4 outside linebacker with a heavy influence on the game,” Zierlein wrote.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Latu as his No. 2 edge rusher on his Big Board while the Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Big Board has Latu at No. 3.
Minnesota saw Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum exit via free agency this summer, leaving holes at both edge rushing spots. The Vikings signed former Houston Texan Jonathan Greenard and former Miami Dolphin Andrew Van Ginkel as replacements.
