re: Saints Cap Situation--2013 Updated 830pm 14MAR

We definitely have other LBs outside of Vilma. Right now I'd say Galette, Wilson, Lofton, and Hawthorne are all a better fit for the 3-4 and currently our likely starters even with Vilma.

For DE we have Jordan who has one spot locked down, and Hicks could possibly play some there as well as guys like Tom Johnson and Tyrunn Walker. But I see Hicks possibly spending some time at nose also and I couldn't say Johnson or Walker would be better than Smith.

Hicks' role may also depend on how well Bunkley plays the middle and if we hit on a NT in the draft or sign one in FA. So that all makes it harder to judge Smith but we do have some options.

For SS we have Bush but I don't think he's a better box safety than Harper, which is how Ryan uses his SS. Bush covers better but Harper is better every where else. IAQ is definitely a FS style safety and he has a better chance at starting over Jenkins than Harper.

There also isn't many box style safeties on the market(mostly free safeties with only a couple of those that could adapt) and the ones you'd say were better than Harper would probably cost too much or have the some problem as Harper(coverage liability).

So I'd say talent wise Vilma is the most cuttable and he'll save us $6 mil.

Smith is next and he'll save us $7.75 mil before June 1st and more after.

Harper is the hardest to replace unless we hit on someone in the draft or some big FA comes cheap and he would save us the least at $1 mil now and between $2.75 to $4 mil after June 1st depending on contract structuring.