Former New Orleans Saints pass rusher Hau’oli Kikaha was selected by the Dallas Renegades in the inaugural XFL Draft, picked eighth overall in the first round of their position-based draft system. Unlike the NFL Draft where players from all positions are considered in each round, the XFL breaks up their 1,000-plus pool of prospects into phases focused on different areas of the game.
It’s great news for Kikaha, who becomes the first defensive player to join the XFL’s outpost in Dallas. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 2015 to 2017 after being drafted in the second round out of Washington, bringing with him prolific experience in getting after quarterbacks but also a series of knee injuries. That streak continued into the NFL, spiking his chances of hanging on in New Orleans despite an impressive rookie season, and the Saints waived Kikaha in September 2018.
Now, he’ll have a chance to continue playing in the league that sees itself as an alternative for the NFL. Kikaha will join a former Saints teammate in Dallas, with the Renegades having previously selected wide receiver and returns specialist Tommylee Lewis, who played for the Saints for several years. The Renegades are run by head coach and general manager Bob Stoops, the longtime Oklahoma Sooners coach, who reunited with former Sooners quarterback Landry Jones earlier in the draft.
