Hau'oli Kikaha to the New Orleans Saints: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown
The New Orleans Saints were expected to field a strong pass rush in 2014, but they failed to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
New Orleans went into the draft in urgent need of an athletic edge defender who can get after the passer, and with the second-round selection of Washington's Hau’oli Kikaha, they now appear to have one.
There were numerous pass-rushers with first-round grades in this year’s draft class, and it was a popular choice in mock drafts for the Saints to take one of them in the first round. Names such as Vic Beasley, Bud Dupree, Shane Ray and Randy Gregory were all strong candidates to be selected by New Orleans.
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With Beasley off the board, the Saints passed on Dupree, Ray and Gregory to pick offensive tackle Andrus Peat with the No. 13 overall pick. Later on, they took linebacker Stephone Anthony at No. 31.
With the No. 44 pick, however, the Saints finally turned their attention to the edge and nabbed Kikaha.
A 6’2,” 253-pound outside linebacker, Kikaha was one of the most productive edge-defenders in college football over the course of the last two years. In that time, he racked up an eye-popping total of 32 sacks and 40 tackles for loss, wreaking havoc on Pac-12 quarterbacks and ball-carriers alike.
For his efforts, Kikaha was named a First-Team All-Pac 12 performer last season. He piled up 19 sacks in 2014, and he registered a sack in every Washington game except one.
He suffered two separate knee injuries during the early years of his collegiate career, but one glance at his highlight reel suggests he’s made a full recovery.
Kikaha flies off the edge with ferocious intensity, and his relentless effort helps make him perhaps the best pure edge-rusher in the draft class.
His game isn’t without weaknesses, however, as he has a tendency to get taken out of the play when defending the run. He also struggles to shed blocks at times, and he tends to lunge at ball-carriers too often, thus sacrificing technique.
It’s obvious that Kikaha wasn’t drafted by the Saints for his run-defending abilities, however, and he could prove to be an instant difference-maker in New Orleans as a situational pass-rusher.
On passing downs, Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will likely attempt to line Kikaha up in favorable spots on the edge of the Saints’ defense and turn him loose.
His quick first step off the snap, combined with his strong hands and aggressive style of play, make him a tremendously difficult blocking assignment, especially if he has space to work with.
He’s capable of lining up and getting after the passer from both a two- and a three-point stance, and his body control is also quite impressive.
Kikaha’s greatest attribute is perhaps his motor. He’s a fiery competitor who gives maximum effort on every play, and he’s also a heady player.
With the drafting of the former Husky standout, New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has addressed one of the team’s major needs for this draft. Kikaha’s an aggressive edge defender who should make an immediate improvement to the Saints’ pass rush in 2014, and with him in the fold, New Orleans can turn its attention to other needs in the draft.
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