Colts turn down Rams trade offer to pick Laiatu Latu in NFL draft

The Indianapolis Colts selected pass rusher Laiatu Latu 15th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the first defensive player taken. They turned down an offer from the Los Angeles Rams that could have resulted in more picks while dropping just four spots in the first round.

The Rams offered the 19th overall pick, along with Nos. 99 (third round) and 154 (fifth round) for Nos. 15 and 191 (sixth round). The Colts refused.

The proposal is detailed in “The Pick Is In,” an NFL production on Roku. The Colts-related hardware comes in the 49th minute.

Game-by-game breakdown: Why the Colts can win – and why they might not – every game on the 2024 schedule

The Rams were captivated by Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who Rams coach Sean McVay described as “aggressive and really smart.”

“We tried to jump out and get our guy,” Rams general manager Les Snead said.

The Rams also checked in with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected Murphy at No. 16. The Rams selected Florida State passer Jared Verse at No. 19.

Defensive players selected after Laiatu Latu in the first round:

Pick/team	Player position
16/Seahawks	Byron Murphy II/DT
17/Vikings	Dallas Turner/Edge
19/Aries	Jared Verse/edge
21/Dolphins	Chop Robinson/edge
22/Eagles	Quinyon Mitchell/CB
24/Lions	Terrion Arnold/CB
27/Cardinals	Darius Robinson/edge
30/Crows	Nate Wiggins/CB

Jimmy Johnson draft trade value chart

Hall of Fame and NFL coach Jimmy Johnson developed a draft trade value chart during his tenure as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Here’s how the Colts-Rams trade project breaks down:

Rams get #15 (1,050 points) + 191 (15) = 1,065

Colts get number 19 (875) + 99 (104) + 154 (29.8) = 1,008.8

Colts 2024 NFL Draft Trades

The Colts made three trades in the draft:

∎ Traded #46 to Carolina Panthers, received #52 (WR Adonai Mitchell), 142 (WR Anthony Gould) and 155.

∎ Traded numbers 82 and 191 to the Arizona Cardinals and received number 79 (OL Matt Goncalves).

∎ Traded number 155 to the Philadelphia Eagles for numbers 164 (CB Jaylin Simpson) and 201 (CB Micah Abraham).

Did the Colts make the right decision?

This appears to be the case. They probably would have gotten the third best defensive player in the draft instead of the first and they would have lost the trade on the value chart.

Colts 2024 NFL Draft Picks

Round/pickaxe	Player	Pos.
1/15	Laiatu Latu	OF
2/52	Adonai Mitchell	W.R.
3/79	Matt Gonçalves	OL
4/117	Tanor Bortolini	OL
5/142	Anthony Gould	W.R.
5/151	Jaylon Carlies	kg
5/164	Jaylin Simpson	CB
6/201	Micah Abraham	CB
7/234	Jonas Laulu	D.T.