4 potential Vikings draft prospects who shined in Week 1
By Luke Parrish
Potential Vikings prospect No. 2
EDGE Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
There may not have been a more dominant performance in all of college football than what Laiatu Latu did to Coastal Carolina. Latu is one of the top pass rushers in the upcoming draft but is viewed in the next tier behind Florida State's Jared Verse and Penn State's Chop Robinson. After his game on Saturday night, Latu is showing that he deserves top-8 consideration.
On 28 pass-rush snaps in Week 1, Latu recorded ten total pressures and 3.0 sacks which resulted in a 35.7% win rate. That is an absurd rate for anyone at any level of football and Latu did it with ease. He also posted a PFF score of 94.7 which is well into the elite tier of their scale.
The Vikings still have major concerns rushing the passer despite Danielle Hunter returning this season. In all likelihood, contract disputes will flare up again next offseason and it may be time to move on from their star pass rusher. If not, they still need to add someone next to him that can take some of the pressure off his shoulders.
Laiatu Latu is going to surge up draft boards this season and could end up challenging Jared Verse for the top pass rusher off the board. Do the Vikings return to the UCLA well and take another star pass rusher to fill the hole left behind by Anthony Barr that has yet to be filled?