2024 NFL Draft: Laiatu Latu Dubbed ‘Patrick Mahomes Stopper’ as Giants OG Reveals Why AFC West Should Pursue the UCLA Bruins DL

Dominating the gridiron is one thing, but shutting down the league’s most unstoppable force? That’s an entirely different beast. As AFC West rivals desperately seek an answer to Patrick Mahomes‘ wizardry, one defensive lineman is emerging as a potential ‘Mahomes Stopper’ – the UCLA Bruins‘ Laiatu Latu. This pass-rushing phenom’s relentless pursuit and unique skill set have scouts believing he could rewrite the defensive blueprint against the Chiefs’ dynamo.

“If you’re in the AFC West and you’re trying to beat Patrick Mahomes you need to draft this guy,” declared Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh. Why such high praise for Latu? The numbers don’t lie – his 27.0% pass-rush win rate tops every Power Five edge rusher over the last decade. Latu’s athleticism rates in the 97th and 99th percentiles, allowing him to simply “go get a sack to win the game,” according to Pugh.

But Latu is more than just jaw-dropping metrics. His rare blend of technique, bend, and relentless motor draws comparisons to elite NFL pass rushers like Joey Bosa. “He has tremendous hands, some of the best bend I’ve ever seen,” raves former UCLA teammate Gabriel Murphy. Latu’s arsenal features, “more ways to win than any pass rusher to come into the league in recent years,” making him a nightmare for offensive tackles.

While Latu’s ceiling is sky-high, his impact is already being felt – just ask Caleb Williams and USC. In two games against the Heisman winner last season, Latu racked up 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks, leaving the Trojans’ offense in disarray. “Really just dominated that game,” Latu stated matter-of-factly. This ability to rise to the occasion in marquee matchups is what separates the elite from the pack.

As draft analysts like Daniel Jeremiah liken Latu to a “technician” and “artist” with his hand usage and variety of pass-rush moves, AFC West teams would be wise to make him an early priority. Because in a league where Mahomes’ magical improvisation reigns supreme, having a disruptive force like Latu could tilt the scales back toward defenses. And for the Bruins’ latest star, shutting down #15 would simply continue a storied legacy of defensive excellence in Westwood.

Laiatu Latu looks to join legendary company!

For Latu, becoming the NFL’s “Patrick Mahomes Stopper” is bigger than just shutting down one superstar QB. It’s about joining the ranks of UCLA’s legendary defensive studs. As the draft nears, all eyes are on Latu to see if he can follow in the footsteps of hard-hitting Bruins greats like Anthony Barr and Kenny Easley who used to terrorize opponents in Westwood.

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Wearing that iconic UCLA blue and gold means more than just representing some colors. It’s about carrying on a rich tradition of defensive dominance. Latu knows the responsibility he has to uphold the program’s culture of producing game-wrecking defenders. Around campus, whispers are growing about Latu being “the next Barr” – high praise indicating he could be a once-in-a-generation talent.

When AFC West teams are crunching the numbers on Draft prospects, they can’t just evaluate Latu’s freakish measurables in a vacuum. His UCLA pedigree precedes him as a potential streak-stopper against Mahomes’ Chiefs juggernaut. Picking Latu means tapping into a defensive legacy decades in the making. It’s a chance to invest in a brotherhood of controlled chaos capable of making even the league’s elite QBs look mortal.

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