My thoughts exactly.

Houston absolutely needs to restructure but he is a keeper for one more year IMO.

Ford tagged (and not traded) is a given.

Houston would take a pay cut IMO. I’m just not sure how much.

He’s not gonna get $21M per on the open market. And he has to know that this is his last best chance to win a Super Bowl, in Kansas City where he has worked for that ring for so long.

Plus you don’t have to uproot your family completely if you stay. Idk, maybe wishful thinking on my part.

Exactly right.

It's not wishful thinking, it's an absolute necessity. If he's on the bench again this year, they wasted yet another 2nd round pick. Going to be really hard to win a Super Bowl wasting 2nd round picks every year.

The defense was awful last year. Let's just keep it all the same because they had a good pass rush.

Or better yet, let's not.

I fully expect Ford to be here another year and they'll try to do something with Houston to keep him around.

Keep this in mind when talking about players and fronts. Daly and House both come from backgrounds of shifting and using tons of hybrid looks. We are moving from a stubborn old DC that didn't adapt to guys who are constantly doing those things.

I think while Ford and Houston are most likely to be DE's in this scheme they could also play some LB I think Speaks and Kpass see time and there will honestly be lots of moving around and different looks.

Where the real overhaul is needed is in the secondary and a sideline to sideline MLB.

Great take.

I'd love to Speaks and Kpass have breakout years.

Yeah let's just change just to change and try not to keep the one thing the defense was doing well last year.

They simply can't afford to keep them both the way things are now.

If they tag Ford, they HAVE to do something with Houston.

They can't afford to overhaul anything if they tag Ford and don't do anything with Houston. They can't just keep them both.

That's why you tag and trade Ford. Houston will restructure and can play the run, drop back, or rush. We all saw what Ford did when he was asked to do anything else but pass rush.

And their cap hits won't be that much in years 1, 2 or 3 of the new deals they sign.

They are going to go out and sign a stud safety. Veach's past behavior has dictated future results. He wanted to upgrade safety in season last year and now he has his chance with a player like Collins that played his best under Spags.

People getting up in arms about the cap is hilarious. The cap has been manipulated by countless organizations. How many players have the Saints lost? Packers? If you want a player, there's always a way.

Houston's great games were few and far between last year. There's no way you keep him at the current number and it would take a substantial salary reduction to see him on this roster.

We have a killer new set of defensive coaches, guys.

They can't do the job by themselves, no. We do still need more and better talent. But there WILL be some spots that are currently holes on paper that will be solidified through players already on the roster who stand to really benefit from the new scheme and coaches.

Like, I'm not a homer. Even at his peak in Dallas, Anthony Hitchens wasn't the greatest LB ever. But he did play pretty well, and that's the form I think he'll resemble more than what he was last year. There will be a few players like that, even if they're just depth guys. They'll probably still be depth guys, but their play is going to improve.

That being said, for the love of God draft some defense. And hit on a couple picks where guys can contribute immediately, please.

When I say overhaul this team needs to get a safety and CB, I think the rest can be handled in the draft..maybe even CB can be.

I'll say this though I'd pursue Jason Verrett for a nothing contract see if you can pull something out of him coming off injury.

Meh, I'd rather have an impact safety and a solid DE than Justin Houston

A Ford and Jones pass rush should be enough to generate pressure.