Playing GM... I would call the Saints about Kenny Vaccaro and the 49ers about Eric Reid. They are both pending free agents and neither team is a contender. Would be willing to send a conditional pick for either of those players.
And before I hear how much Vaccaro hasn't done anything, understand this; Heath is killing us. Vaccaro is twice the athlete is and 3 times the football player. Plus, he's a pending free agent so if he doesn't pan out, we simply move on in the off-season. We might even get a comp pick out of it.
Vaccaro, age 26, $5.6M cap hit (technically about 3/4th of that hit since the season is a quarter done)
Reid, age 25, $5.6M cap hit
Then, I call the following teams: the Colts and the Browns to inquire about Jonathan Hankins and Danny Shelton. This will probably be a costly trade but the phone calls are free. If they want too much, no trade.
Hankins, age 25 (6'2", 320 lbs) $3M cap hit, signed through 2019 and it looks like he has another $7M guaranteed.
Shelton, age 24 (6'2", 339 lbs) $1.49M cap hit, signed through 2018. Also, the option to pick up his 5th year in 2019.
Last, I sound like a broken record, but I sign Daryl Washington to a low-risk, 2-year deal. With the 2nd year being respectable but it would be a team option. The team is protected but there is serious motivation for Washington to perform.
That would take almost all of our $9M in cap room but we would have added three pieces to the defense. It would send a message that no one's job is safe and I feel solves three glaring problems.
LDE Demarcus Lawrence
1TECH Jonathan Hankins (David Irving on passing downs)
3TECH Maliek Collins
RDE Tyrone Crawford/Taco Charlton
SAM Daryl Washington
MIKE Anthony HItchens (bring Jaylon along slowly)
WILL Sean Lee
LCB Orlando Scandrick
RCB Jourdan Lewis
NB Anthony Brown/Chidobe Awuzie/Byron Jones (I would phase out Anthony Brown unless his play improves soon)
SS Byron Jones/Xavier Woods
FS Kenny Vaccaro/Xavier Woods
Not big names but I feel it gives the defense a fighting chance.
