What's the New Orleans Saints plan without Hau'oli Kikaha?

What’s the New Orleans Saints’ plan without Hau’oli Kikaha?

Sep 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) celebrates following a sack on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 26-19. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

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Disaster struck the New Orleans Saints this week when Hau’oli Kikaha was reported to have a torn ACL, causing him to miss the entire 2016 season. The second-year defensive end was a bright spot on a bad defense in 2015, and expectations were high for him moving forward. But as is always the case with injuries, the Saints will have to call the next man up.

First off, what position did Hau’oli Kikaha actually play? Last year he was a strongside linebacker, also called the SAM. He played weakside defensive end in college, and was slated to return to that role in 2017 to help the Saints get as much production from him as possible.

A weak side defensive end is not a typical position, but it’s grown in popularity recently thanks to the success of players like Denver Broncos Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. These players are undersized for defensive ends, usually weighing between 250- and 270-pounds.

Hau’oli Kikaha fit that mold perfectly, weighing as much as 267-pounds in college before slimming down to 253-pounds for the NFL Scouting Combine last spring. He was expected to weigh around 260-pounds this summer, near the same weight Junior Galette played at. But Hau’oli Kikaha is a non-factor this year, so let’s look at some possible replacements who are on the Saints’ roster, could be targets in free agency, or are possibly traded-for.

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