Colts snap record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken in NFL draft with UCLA DE Latu
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft Thursday night, going No. 15 overall to Indianapolis to snap a record streak of 14 straight offensive players selected.
The latest a first round had previously gone before a defensive player was taken was No. 8 overall. That's where the Carolina Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn in 2021.
Not only were the 14 straight offensive players to start the draft a record, it was the first time 14 straight offensive players were taken at any point in the draft. Six of those players were quarterbacks, including USC's Caleb Williams to Chicago, LSU's Jayden Daniels to Washington and North Carolina's Drake Maye to New England with the top three picks.
There were also three wide receivers taken in the top 10 and three offensive tackles among those top 14 picks.
Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga was pick No. 14 by the New Orleans Saints.
Then came the Colts to finally go defense.
Latu was an All-American and Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2023, leading major college football with 21 1/2 tackles for loss, including 13 sacks.
Seattle then made it two straight defensive linemen when it took Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy at No. 16 and the Vikings traded up to make it three in a row with Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
-
Former All-Pro running back David Johnson retires after 8 seasons in the NFL
Will Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets live up to prime-time scheduling hype?
Why Chiefs' Harrison Butker missed the mark in commencement speech
-
2024 NFL schedule release: Win-loss predictions, analysis for every team
2024 NFL division predictions: Winners for each AFC and NFC division
2024 NFL strength of schedule: Ranking every team's slate
-
Inside the NFL schedule puzzle: Byes, Christmas, overseas trips and Taylor Swift
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Arizona Cardinals on the move after schedule release
Julian Edelman reveals backstage tension between Kraft, Belichick at Brady roast
Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. sued by apparel manufacturer Fanatics for breach of contract
-
Former All-Pro running back David Johnson retires after 8 seasons in the NFL
Will Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets live up to prime-time scheduling hype?
Why Chiefs' Harrison Butker missed the mark in commencement speech
-
2024 NFL schedule release: Win-loss predictions, analysis for every team
2024 NFL division predictions: Winners for each AFC and NFC division
2024 NFL strength of schedule: Ranking every team's slate
-
Inside the NFL schedule puzzle: Byes, Christmas, overseas trips and Taylor Swift
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Arizona Cardinals on the move after schedule release
Julian Edelman reveals backstage tension between Kraft, Belichick at Brady roast