Hau'oli Kikaha NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Saints Rookie

STRENGTHS

It's tough to beat the production Hau'oli Kikaha displayed at Washington in 2014. He shows a nonstop work ethic and attacks offenses with violence—a trait teams will love. He's been a versatile defender who plays with his hands down and standing up as a rush 'backer. His straight-line burst is very good, and he has the speed to run down quarterbacks from behind.

Kikaha's hand use is also very good, and he shows a strong upper body to stack up blockers and shed them before pulling the chain to attack. Kikaha's background in judo and wrestling shows up in how he uses his hands and plays with leverage.

WEAKNESSES

Two ACL surgeries are a major alert for Kikaha and something teams have to be comfortable with up front. He lacks agility in space and doesn't have the lateral movement needed to excel if he's asked to play in coverage.

Too much of his production came from offenses focusing on Danny Shelton and Shaq Thompson, which freed up rushing lanes for him off the backside. Limited athleticism and length hurt Kikaha's prospects.

2014 STATISTICS

Tackles: 72
Sacks: 19
Tackles for Loss: 25

PRO PLAYER COMPARISON: Jerry Hughes, Buffalo Bills

It would be great for Kikaha to live up to his potential and emulate Jerry Hughes, but this is more a comparison of athleticism and style. It took Hughes two stops in the NFL to find his spot, and likewise, Kikaha deserves patience.

FINAL GRADE: 5.35/9.0 (Priority Backup)